Enzyme substitution in pancreatic disease: is colipase activity sufficient?

The aim of the present study was to determine colipase activity in various pancreatic enzyme tablets to ascertain whether these contained sufficient amounts of colipase to activate lipase during fat digestion. Colipase activity in all preparations tested exceeded that of lipase activity by a factor of 1.4-1.9 on a molar activity basis. Since optimal activity of lipase is obtained with colipase being present in a colipase to lipase molar activity ratio of 1.0, it is concluded that these preparations contain a sufficient amount of colipase to activate lipase.