Carbohydrate Digestion and Absorption

Question 1

What is Digestion?

Answer 1

Breaking down carbohydrates to single sugars

Question 2

Where does digestion of carbohydrates occur?

Answer 2

Mouth
Stomach
Small Intestine

Question 3

Digestion in the Mouth

Answer 3

Salivary amylase begins digestion of carbohydrates

Question 4

Digestion in the stomach

Answer 4

Acidity of stomach juices halt action of salivary amylase; stops carbohydrate digestion

Question 5

Digestion in small intestines

Answer 5

• Pancreatic amylase continues starch digestion
• The brush border enzymes digest disaccharides

-Other digestive enzymes: Maltose, sucrose, and lactase

Question 6

During digestion, which 2 bonds link glucose molecules

Answer 6

1. Alpha bonds:
   - Broken down by human enzymes-Starch
2. Beta bonds:
   - Bonds remain unbroken by human enzymes-Cellulose

Question 7

During Digestion, which enzymes are highly specific?

Answer 7

lactase and Beano

Side note: during digestion Some carbohydrates remain intact, such as fiber and resistant starch

Question 8

During absorption what happens?

Answer 8

Small intestine swings into action:

• End products of carbohydrate digestion
• Liver stores and releases glucose in order to maintain blood glucose levels

Question 9

What is the end product of carbohydrate digestion?

Answer 9

Glucose
Galactose -> glucose
Fructose -> glucose

Question 10

Steps to digestion

Traveling with a carbohydrate

Answer 10

1. Action of salivary Amylase in the mouth begins to digest starch to shorter glucose chains
2. As soon as food reaches the stomach, stomach acid inactivates amylase, and proteases destroy the enzymes
3. In the small intestine, pancreatic amylase completes the digestion of starch to maltose. Specific enzymes digest monosaccharides, which are absorbed into the blood stream.