Maltose is formed during digestion of which carbohydrate?

Maltose is formed during digestion of which carbohydrate?

• A. Starch
• B. Glycogen
• C. Cellulose
• D. Chitin

Answer: (A)

Maltose appears when a starch molecule is broken down by amylase. In the digestive tract, salivary and pancreatic amylase cut the long starch polymer into smaller pieces, mainly maltose and limit dextrins. The maltose is then split by maltase on the intestinal lining into two glucose molecules for absorption. Other carbohydrates like cellulose and chitin have different linkages that humans can’t digest, so they don’t produce maltose. Glycogen digestion mainly yields glucose (often as glucose-1-phosphate) rather than maltose, so starch is the source that forms maltose during digestion.

Maltose appears when a starch molecule is broken down by amylase. In the digestive tract, salivary and pancreatic amylase cut the long starch polymer into smaller pieces, mainly maltose and limit dextrins. The maltose is then split by maltase on the intestinal lining into two glucose molecules for absorption. Other carbohydrates like cellulose and chitin have different linkages that humans can’t digest, so they don’t produce maltose. Glycogen digestion mainly yields glucose (often as glucose-1-phosphate) rather than maltose, so starch is the source that forms maltose during digestion.