Diastase and amylase are terms that are often used interchangeably, but they refer to related yet distinct concepts.
Amylase is a type of enzyme that catalyzes the breakdown of starch into sugars. It’s found in various forms, primarily in saliva as salivary amylase and in the pancreas as pancreatic amylase. These enzymes play a significant role in digestion, helping to convert starches from food into simpler sugars that the body can absorb.
On the other hand, diastase is a term that is commonly used to refer to a mixture of enzymes, including amylase, that are responsible for the digestion of starches. Historically, the term diastase was used to describe the starch-splitting activity observed in malt extracts, which consist mainly of amylase and other related enzymes.
In summary, all diastase contains amylase, but not all amylase is referred to as diastase. They are closely related, but the key difference lies in the fact that amylase is a specific enzyme, while diastase can refer to a broader group of starch-decomposing enzymes, including amylase itself.