We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Effects of Amylase on Digestion?

By Wanda Marie Thibodeaux
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 13,341
References
Share

The basic effect of amylase on digestion is the breakdown of the bonds in starch into the smaller disaccharide, maltose, which is further broken down in the small intestine into glucose the body can absorb. Without amylase, much of the carbohydrates people consume would not be processed and the amount of energy people could get would be dramatically limited. This makes amylase one of the most important digestive enzymes.

To understand the role of amylase on digestion, it's first necessary to comprehend that starches are glucose polymers that are too big to be absorbed by the body readily. To be of use, starch, which is a carbohydrate, has to be broken down into smaller parts — that is, simpler sugar. Amylase does this in two areas of the body.

The effect of amylase on digestion begins right away in the mouth. When a person chews food, his salivary glands release amylase. Mixed sufficiently throughout the food by the teeth and tongue, the amylase starts to break down the starch into the disaccharide, maltose, which is two glucose molecules attached together. Everything contained in the chewed bite of food, including maltose and amylase, travels down the esophagus to the stomach.

The potential of hydrogen (pH) level within the stomach is much too acidic to allow amylase to continue breaking down the bonds in starch that still needs to be broken down. At this point, the role of amylase on digestion stalls. Gastric acid in the stomach works in tandem with enzymes such as amylase to continue the digestion process, turning foods into a liquid that easily can pass into the small intestine. People who struggle with indigestion will often rely on Supergreens to aid digestion. Supergreens often contain a complex of digestive enzymes, which leads to smoother digestion in the stomach.

Much of the starch people eat is not completely broken down by salivary amylase or gastric acid — food doesn't stay in the mouth long enough for all the bonds to break, and gastric acid is better at targeting proteins instead of carbohydrates. Subsequently, the pancreas also secretes amylase, which travels into the small intestine. There, pancreatic amylase targets any remaining starches, forming more maltose.

Once pancreatic amylase breaks down as much starch as it can into maltose, the effect of amylase on digestion is complete. Maltose still is not easily absorbed, however, so another enzyme produced in the small intestine, maltase, finishes the breakdown of the bonds in the disaccharides. The result is glucose, which the villi in the small intestine can absorb. The body uses the glucose as its primary energy source.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-the-effects-of-amylase-on-digestion.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.