What is the term for the enzymes used to increase the rate of chemical reactions in the body?

The term for enzymes that increase the rate of chemical reactions in the body is catalysts. Enzymes function as biological catalysts by lowering the activation energy required for a reaction to occur, thereby speeding up the reaction processes without being consumed in the reaction. This allows vital biochemical reactions, such as metabolism and DNA replication, to happen efficiently at the physiological temperatures of living organisms.

Substrates refer to the specific reactants that enzymes act upon, while inhibitors are substances that decrease enzyme activity by interfering with the enzyme's ability to bind to its substrate. Coenzymes, on the other hand, are organic non-protein molecules that assist enzymes by enhancing their activity, but they are not interchangeable with enzymes themselves. Therefore, catalysts is the correct term to describe enzymes due to their role in facilitating and accelerating chemical reactions.