Enzymes
Amylase
A digestive enzyme from the pancreas and the salivary glands that breaks down starch.
Unit U/LTypical adult range 30–118 U/L
What it is
A digestive enzyme from the pancreas and the salivary glands that breaks down starch.
Why it matters
It is the traditional test for pancreatic inflammation, though lipase has largely replaced it because amylase has more sources.
Reading the number
Because the salivary glands make it too, a raised value is not necessarily pancreatic -- lipase is what settles that. Kidney disease raises it, since the kidneys clear it.
What moves it
pancreatic inflammationsalivary gland problemskidney functionalcohol
When to raise it
Worth discussing a raised value together with lipase.
Also known as
On a report in another language.
A lab report names this analyte in its own language. Vitals Vault recognises each of these and files them all under Amylase.
AmilasémiaAmilaseAmülaas
Catalog entry last updated 2026-08-28. Browse all 165 metrics.