Which enzyme converts starches to simple sugars?

Which enzyme converts starches to simple sugars?

• A. Pancreatic amylase
• B. Salivary amylase
• C. Pepsin
• D. Lipase

Answer: (A)

Starch digestion relies on amylase enzymes that break the long glucose chains into smaller sugars. The enzyme that does the bulk of this conversion in the small intestine is pancreatic amylase, secreted by the pancreas into the duodenum. It cleaves starch into maltose, maltotriose, and limit dextrins, which brush-border enzymes later convert to glucose for absorption. Salivary amylase starts the process in the mouth, but its activity is short-lived and largely inactivated by stomach acid, so it doesn’t complete the conversion to simple sugars. Pepsin and lipase don't act on starch at all—pepsin digests proteins, and lipase digests fats.

Starch digestion relies on amylase enzymes that break the long glucose chains into smaller sugars. The enzyme that does the bulk of this conversion in the small intestine is pancreatic amylase, secreted by the pancreas into the duodenum. It cleaves starch into maltose, maltotriose, and limit dextrins, which brush-border enzymes later convert to glucose for absorption. Salivary amylase starts the process in the mouth, but its activity is short-lived and largely inactivated by stomach acid, so it doesn’t complete the conversion to simple sugars. Pepsin and lipase don't act on starch at all—pepsin digests proteins, and lipase digests fats.