Understanding Lipase and Lipase Testing
Whenever we eat, the pancreas releases an enzyme called lipase into the digestive tract. Its primary job is to break down dietary fats so they can be absorbed by the intestines and used by the body. Beyond digestion, lipase also plays a role at the cellular level, helping nutrients and waste move efficiently across cell walls.
Maintaining optimal lipase levels is essential for normal digestion and cellular function. However, unusually high lipase levels in the blood may indicate an underlying health condition.
What a Lipase Test Is Used For
A lipase test is often performed together with an amylase test. These tests help doctors diagnose and monitor conditions that affect the pancreas and digestive system, such as:
-
Acute or chronic pancreatitis
-
Celiac disease
-
Crohn’s disease
-
Cystic fibrosis
-
Pancreatic cancer
Symptoms of Pancreatic Dysfunction
Some common signs that may prompt lipase testing include:
-
Persistent or severe abdominal pain (sometimes radiating to the back)
-
Fever
-
Loss of appetite
-
Nausea or vomiting
Special Consideration
It’s important to note that lipase test results may be altered during pregnancy, so interpretation should take this into account.
In summary: Lipase plays an essential role in digestion and cellular health. Testing lipase levels provides valuable insights into pancreatic function and can help identify a number of digestive and metabolic conditions.
What does it mean if your Lipase result is too high?
What Elevated Lipase Levels in Blood Can Indicate
Elevated lipase levels in the blood may signal various health conditions. Lipase is a critical enzyme produced by the pancreas, essential for fat digestion. While normal lipase levels generally range from 0 to 90 units per liter (U/L), this can vary slightly depending on the lab. When lipase levels exceed three times the upper limit of normal (ULN), it often points to pancreatic inflammation or damage.
Common Causes of Elevated Lipase Levels
-
Acute Pancreatitis: The most frequent cause of lipase levels exceeding three times the ULN. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Learn more about pancreatitis.
-
Chronic Pancreatitis: Long-term inflammation of the pancreas can also elevate lipase levels, though typically not as high as in acute pancreatitis.
-
Pancreatic Cancer: Tumors or cancer in the pancreas may result in elevated lipase levels.
-
Kidney Disease: Conditions like chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease can lead to increased lipase levels due to reduced clearance by the kidneys. Read more on kidney disease.
-
Gallbladder Disorders: Conditions like cholecystitis or gallstones can cause lipase elevation.
-
Gastrointestinal Conditions: Bowel obstruction, peptic ulcer disease, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may lead to high lipase levels.
-
Medications: Certain drugs, including codeine, morphine, and some birth control pills, can increase lipase levels. Medications affecting lipase.
-
Other Potential Causes: Conditions like diabetes, celiac disease, and infections such as hepatitis C or HIV can contribute to elevated lipase levels.
Interpreting Elevated Lipase Test Results
While lipase levels exceeding three times the ULN often indicate pancreatic issues, they should always be interpreted alongside clinical symptoms and other diagnostic tests. It's essential to note that non-pathological pancreatic hyperenzymemia can also cause elevated lipase levels without any underlying pancreatic disease.
Key Takeaways
- Elevated lipase levels can indicate a variety of conditions, including acute pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, kidney disease, and gallbladder disorders.
- Diagnosis should always consider clinical symptoms and other test results.
- High lipase levels are most commonly linked to pancreatic health issues but can also result from other medical conditions or medications.
All Your Lab Results.
One Simple Dashboard.
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results Easily
Import, Track, and Share Your Lab Results
Import lab results from multiple providers, track changes over time, customize your reference ranges, and get clear explanations for each result. Everything is stored securely, exportable in one organized file, and shareable with your doctor—or anyone you choose.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
What does it mean if your Lipase result is too low?
Low Lipase Levels: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Lipase is a key digestive enzyme made by the pancreas. Its main job is to break down dietary fats into smaller components your body can absorb. When lipase levels are too low, fat digestion suffers—leading to malabsorption, nutrient deficiencies, and uncomfortable digestive symptoms.
Low lipase is most often linked to pancreatic problems, but other conditions can also play a role. Here’s what you should know.
Causes of Low Lipase Levels
Several health conditions or factors can reduce lipase production or block its release into the gut:
1. Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
-
What it is: The pancreas doesn’t make or release enough digestive enzymes.
-
Why it happens: Long-term damage from chronic inflammation, alcohol use, or surgery.
-
Effect: Poor fat digestion, fatty stools, and nutrient deficiencies.
2. Cystic Fibrosis
-
What it is: A genetic disorder that causes thick, sticky mucus.
-
Why it happens: Mucus blocks pancreatic ducts, preventing enzymes (including lipase) from reaching the intestines.
-
Effect: More than 80% of people with cystic fibrosis develop enzyme insufficiency.
3. Celiac Disease
-
What it is: An autoimmune reaction to gluten (wheat, barley, rye).
-
Why it happens: Gluten damages the small intestine, disrupting signals for enzyme release.
-
Effect: Reduced enzyme activity and fat malabsorption—often improved with a gluten-free diet.
4. Chronic Pancreatitis
-
What it is: Long-term inflammation of the pancreas.
-
Why it happens: Often due to alcohol use, gallstones, smoking, autoimmune issues, or genetics.
-
Effect: Repeated inflammation causes scarring and permanent loss of enzyme production.
5. Other Causes
-
Metabolic disorders: Inherited conditions affecting fat metabolism.
-
Malnutrition: Severe deficiencies can impair enzyme production.
-
Surgery or injury: Removal or trauma reduces pancreatic tissue.
-
Pancreatic cancer: Tumors can block ducts or destroy cells.
-
Type 1 diabetes (long-term): Prolonged high blood sugar may damage pancreatic function.
Common Symptoms
Low lipase usually shows up as fat digestion problems. Symptoms may include:
-
Greasy, foul-smelling stools (steatorrhea)
-
Stomach pain or cramping after fatty meals
-
Gas and bloating
-
Unintended weight loss
-
Signs of nutrient deficiencies (fatigue, weak muscles, dry skin, brittle nails)
Diagnosis
Doctors may use a combination of:
-
Blood tests: To measure lipase levels.
-
Stool tests: To detect fat malabsorption.
-
Imaging (ultrasound, CT, MRI): To check pancreatic health.
-
Celiac testing: Blood work and sometimes biopsy.
-
Sweat test: Standard test for cystic fibrosis.
Treatment Options
Treatment aims to improve fat digestion and address the underlying cause.
-
Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT): Capsules with lipase and other enzymes taken with meals.
-
Dietary support: Smaller, frequent meals; moderate fat intake; vitamin A, D, E, and K supplements.
-
Condition-specific care:
-
Celiac disease: Strict gluten-free diet
-
Chronic pancreatitis: Lifestyle changes, pain management, sometimes surgery
-
Cystic fibrosis: Specialized long-term care
-
-
Medications: Anti-inflammatory drugs or pain relief if needed.
When to See a Doctor
Seek medical advice if you experience:
-
Ongoing digestive issues
-
Unexplained weight loss
-
Signs of vitamin deficiencies
-
Known pancreatic conditions (regular monitoring recommended)
Key Takeaway
Low lipase levels don’t always signal a severe disorder, but untreated enzyme deficiency can harm digestion and long-term health. With the right care—especially enzyme therapy, tailored nutrition, and treatment of the underlying cause—most people can manage symptoms and prevent complications.
The crucial step is identifying why lipase levels are low, since lasting improvement depends on treating the root cause.
Laboratories
Bring All Your Lab Results Together — In One Place
We accept reports from any lab, so you can easily collect and organize all your health information in one secure spot.
Pricing Table
Gather Your Lab History — and Finally Make Sense of It
Finally, Your Lab Results Organized and Clear
Personal plans
$79/ year
Advanced Plan
Access your lab reports, explanations, and tracking tools.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 5 reports entered for you
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
$250/ once
Unlimited Account
Pay once, access everything—no monthly fees, no limits.
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track all results with visual tools
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export your full lab history anytime
- Share results securely with anyone
- Receive 10 reports entered for you
- No subscriptions. No extra fees.
$45/ month
Pro Monthly
Designed for professionals managing their clients' lab reports
- Import lab results from any provider
- Track lab results for multiple clients
- Customize reference ranges per client
- Export lab histories and reports
- Begin with first report entered by us
- Cancel or upgrade anytime
About membership
What's included in a Healthmatters membership
Import Lab Results from Any Source
See Your Health Timeline
Understand What Your Results Mean
Visualize Your Results
Data Entry Service for Your Reports
Securely Share With Anyone You Trust
Let Your Lab Results Tell the Full Story
Once your results are in one place, see the bigger picture — track trends over time, compare data side by side, export your full history, and share securely with anyone you trust.
Bring all your results together to compare, track progress, export your history, and share securely.
What Healthmatters Members Are Saying
Frequently asked questions
Healthmatters is a personal health dashboard that helps you organize and understand your lab results. It collects and displays your medical test data from any lab in one secure, easy-to-use platform.
- Individuals who want to track and understand their health over time.
- Health professionals, such as doctors, nutritionists, and wellness coaches, need to manage and interpret lab data for their clients.
With a Healthmatters account, you can:
- Upload lab reports from any lab
- View your data in interactive graphs, tables, and timelines
- Track trends and monitor changes over time
- Customize your reference ranges
- Export and share your full lab history
- Access your results anytime, from any device
Professionals can also analyze client data more efficiently and save time managing lab reports.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 10000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
- The GI Effects® Comprehensive Stool Profile,
- GI-MAP,
- The NutrEval FMV®,
- The ION Profile,
- Amino Acids Profile,
- Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH),
- Organic Acids Test,
- Organix Comprehensive Profile,
- Toxic Metals,
- Complete Blood Count (CBC),
- Metabolic panel,
- Thyroid panel,
- Lipid Panel,
- Urinalysis,
- And many, many more.
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
We implement proven measures to keep your data safe.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.