What should your lipase levels be

There are also many other potential causes of abdominal pain. Other causes include appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy in women, and intestinal blockage, among others. Checking amylase and lipase levels is important to help determine if the cause of these symptoms is pancreatitis, or something else. Enzymes are proteins produced by the body to do a particular job. The pancreas produces amylase to break down carbohydrates in food into simple sugars.

The pancreas makes lipase to digest fats into fatty acids. Sugars and fatty acids can then be absorbed by the small intestine. Some amylase and lipase can be found in saliva and in the stomach.

However, most of the enzymes made in the pancreas are released into the small intestine. When the pancreas is damaged, these digestive enzymes can be found in the blood at higher levels than normal.

Amylase or lipase results more than three times normal levels are likely to mean pancreatitis or damage to your pancreas. However, in rare cases, there can be significant damage to the pancreas without abnormal amylase or lipase levels.

In these cases, abdominal pain is the most common symptom. Early in the course of damage to the pancreas, amylase or lipase levels may be also be normal. There are many reasons why someone might have abnormal levels of amylase in their blood. These include:. Lower than normal levels of amylase may indicate severe injury to the pancreas, high triglycerides , prediabetes, or diabetes.

There are some medications that can increase the amount of amylase in your blood without any illness present :. Drugs that may affect the levels of lipase in your bloodstream are the same ones known to affect the levels of amylase. Acute pancreatitis is rare during pregnancy. However, it can lead to problems with your baby if it does occur. This can result from long-term disorders, such as chronic pancreatitis or cystic fibrosis.

Acute pancreatitis is one of the most common issues associated with high levels of lipase in the blood. When a doctor detects the condition at an early stage, treatments can include:. A doctor will also treat any underlying issues responsible for pancreatitis, such as gallstones or elevated calcium levels. Some medications can cause acute pancreatitis, and in this case, the doctor will change the type or dosage.

A person may be able to reduce their risk of developing acute pancreatitis by eating a healthful diet and avoiding excessive consumption of alcohol.

Whether acute pancreatitis or another underlying condition is responsible for elevated levels of lipase in the blood, receiving treatment should cause levels to return to a normal range. Test results can help a doctor to diagnose acute pancreatitis and other health issues affecting the pancreas. Detecting and treating acute pancreatitis at an early stage can prevent the condition from becoming severe.

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Toggle navigation. Spanish About Chemocare. Hyperlipasemia High Blood Lipase Level. Part of the reason an amylase test is not used solitarily is because, in addition to pancreatic disease, high amylase can also be a sign of:. If you are diagnosed with the above conditions or with a pancreatic disease, your doctor may commonly order lipase and amylase tests together in order to monitor your progress.

There is very little preparation involved when it comes to taking a lipase test. Because it is a standard blood test like a complete blood count CBC , it requires very little preparation. It is best if the patient has been fasting prior to the test, however, and most doctors will order a fasting test. For a lipase test specifically, the doctor will want you to be fasting for 8 to 12 hours prior to the administration of the test.

If your doctor has ordered a fasting blood test, prepare to go to the phlebotomist or laboratory first thing in the morning, or make an appointment early in the day.

Do not eat any food for 8 to 12 hours before your test. It is a common myth that it is okay to drink black coffee in the morning prior to a blood test, but this is not true.

Coffee is a diuretic, and it contains caffeine and soluble plant matter, so it should be avoided for a fasting exam. Similarly, do not drink alcohol 8 to 12 hours before your test. In fact, your doctor may advise you not to imbibe for up to a full 24 hours before taking a lipase test. It is important to continue your regular medication regimen unless otherwise instructed by your doctor.