Carbohydrate-Digesting Enzymes

Carbohydrate-digesting enzymes are a group of digestive enzymes responsible for breaking down complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides and disaccharides) into absorbable monosaccharides (such as glucose, fructose, and galactose). These enzymes act at various stages of the digestive tract, starting in the mouth and continuing through the small intestine. Key enzymes include salivary amylase, pancreatic amylase, and brush border disaccharidases like maltase, sucrase, lactase, isomaltase and trehalase. They hydrolyze dietary carbohydrates so that they can be absorbed across intestinal epithelial cells. Deficiencies or inhibition of these enzymes can result in gastrointestinal symptoms due to maldigestion/malabsorption.

Other names

AmylaseSalivary AmylasePancreatic AmylaseDisaccharidasesMaltaseSucraseLactaseIsomaltaseTrehalase

Acarbose inhibits some brush border disaccharidases, slowing carbohydrate absorption.