Expert: John Locke - 1/7/2011

Question
There are six classes of food, there are enzyme that aid the breakdown of lipid,protein&carbohydrate, but i have never come across enzyme that breakdown mineral salt& vitamin can you please explain that. Thanks in advance

Answer
Thanks for using AllExperts. Lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates are all complex molecules that must be broken down into their basic components (fatty acids, amino acids, and monosaccharides, respectively) before they can be absorbed and used by the body. As such, we have evolved enzymes that degrade these molecules into forms that the body is capable of using. Minerals, salts, and vitamins are used in a completely different manner; they do not generally get broken down by the body because they are used in the forms in which we ingest them. There is minimal processing of these substances compared to processing that lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates undergo. Minerals and salts do not undergo any metabolism at all; they are used by the body exactly in the form that they are consumed. Vitamins often do undergo some metabolism in the body, but these processes subtly alter the structure or function of the vitamin; they do not completely break apart the vitamin in simpler component structures, which is what the digestive enzymes do to fats, sugars, and proteins. As such, you have never come across these kinds of enzymes because they do not exist. Thanks for using AllExperts.