No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Carbohydrates in food are digested by hydrolytic enzymes in the lumen of the small intestine. α Amylase in the pancreatic juice and disaccharidases on the brush border membranes in the small intestine are the main enzymes for the digestion of dietary carbohydrates. The activity of hydrolytic enzymes on carbohydrates and their regulation by dietary components has already been reviewed in detail for the pancreas 1,2) and the small intestine. 3,4) Pancreatic α amylase first cleaves internal α 1,4 bonds in polysaccharides and produces maltose, maltotriose and maltotetraose in upper portion of the lumen in the small intestine. The second stage of carbohydrate digestion occurs on the surface of intestinal epithelial cells in microvillous membrane. Several glycosidases, or disaccharidases, hydrolyze di or oligosaccharides derived from ingested carbohydrates to smaller saccharides. The final products of carbohydrate digestion are monosaccharides, which are then absorbed into the epithelial cell lining inner surface of the intestine. Aging, fasting and feeding conditions influence the activities of pancreatic α amylase 1,2) and intestinal disaccharidases. 3,4) Characteristics of the ingested carbohydrates also have a significant effect on pancreatic α amylase 5,6) and intestinal disaccharidase activities. 7,8) Certain types of diet were reported to affect both pancreatic α amylase and intestinal disaccharidases at the same time. 9,10) Carbohydrates are the main energy source and are usu