No pity parties please! Its quite obvious she eats too much junk food! Denial will not heal her!

Yes, well put Paul. Digestion is a complex matter and malfunctions can happen from many issues.

"neurotransmitters that signal peristaltic action. Bile salts is another potential core issue......"

this thread got me to thinking... and I researched a little. Interesting that for neurotransmitters to work we need calcium:

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotransmitters

Mechanism of action

Within the cells, small-molecule neurotransmitter molecules are usually packaged in vesicles. When an action potential travels to the synapse, the rapid depolarization causes calcium ion channels to open. Calcium then stimulates the transport of vesicles to the synaptic membrane; the vesicle and cell membrane fuse, leading to the release of the packaged neurotransmitter, a mechanism called exocytosis.

The neurotransmitters then diffuse across the synaptic cleft to bind to receptors. The receptors are broadly classified into ionotropic and metabotropic receptors. Ionotropic receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that open or close through neurotransmitter binding. Metabotropic receptors, which can have a diverse range of effects on a cell, transduct the signal by secondary messenger systems, or G-proteins.

Neuroactive peptides are made in the neuron's soma and are transported through the axon to the synapse. They are usually packaged into dense-core vesicles and are released through a similar, but metabolically distinct, form of exocytosis used for small-molecule synaptic vesicles.

In addition, in order for some enzymes to work, we need calcium:

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amylase

α-Amylase

(EC 3.2.1.1 ) (CAS# 9014-71-5) (alternate names: 1,4-α-D-glucan glucanohydrolase; glycogenase) The α-amylases are calcium metalloenzymes, completely unable to function in the absence of calcium. By acting at random locations along the starch chain, α-amylase breaks down long-chain carbohydrates, ultimately yielding maltotriose and maltose from amylose, or maltose, glucose and "limit dextrin" from amylopectin. Because it can act anywhere on the substrate, α-amylase tends to be faster acting than β-amylase. In animals, it is a major digestive enzyme.

It also appears that enzymes are generally proteins thus have a nitrogen bond... and if you get into the reaction parts of the Wikis you will see for the most part they are acid/alkaline chemical reactions.

I would suspect that a BIG dietary change is needed in a case where an individual cannot digest fats. One that slowly incorporates raw plant oils and fats that may contain their own lipase's to a point and that totally eliminates man made fats and refined fats and oils INCLUDING factory farm animal fats. Then I think with the right balance of minerals, which may take quite a long time in a case like this, MONTHS, the body could be cleaned enough and retrained enough to start producing its own enzymes again. NOTE, that this is not a cure, but a way of life needed for permanent change. If the sufferer goes back to eating as they did\do, the issue(s) will again resurface, maybe worse.

Interesting that it states that cofactors, usually protein bound vitamins are manufactured by the body... not really what the vitamin industry would want you to know.

I think the only enzyme(s) the body does not produce on its own, when healthy, are the cellulases which break down plant fibers.

Correct me if I am wrong anywhere as this was quickly researched.

grz