What is the role of lipases in digestion?

Lipases are specialized enzymes that play a crucial role in the digestion of fats. Their primary function is to catalyze the hydrolysis of triglycerides and other lipids into glycerol and free fatty acids. This breakdown is essential as it allows fats to be absorbed through the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream, where they can be transported to cells for use as an energy source or for storage.

Understanding the importance of lipases highlights more about the digestion process as a whole. While other enzymes are responsible for breaking down carbohydrates, such as starches, into simpler sugars, and proteins into amino acids, lipases specifically target lipids. Hence, the correct understanding of lipase function is integral to grasping how fats are processed in the body.