Carbohydrate digestion enzyme

"Carbohydrate digestion enzymes" are a collective term for enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of dietary carbohydrates into monosaccharides, which can be absorbed in the intestine. The primary enzymes involved include salivary amylase and pancreatic amylase (which break down starches into oligosaccharides and maltose), and brush border disaccharidases such as maltase, sucrase, and lactase (which cleave disaccharides into glucose, fructose, and galactose)[1][2][3][9]. These enzymes are produced by the salivary glands, pancreas, and intestinal epithelial cells. Therapeutic inhibitors (e.g., acarbose, miglitol) are used to manage postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetes by slowing carbohydrate digestion[6][10]. Deficiencies or dysfunctions of these enzymes can result in malabsorption and gastrointestinal symptoms (such as in lactose intolerance or some forms of congenital disaccharidase deficiency)[7].

Other names

CarbohydraseCarbohydrate-degrading enzymeCarbohydrate digestive enzyme

Competitive inhibition of alpha-glucosidases; Inhibition of intestinal disaccharidases