Tärkkelysmäntymissä

Tärkkelysmäntymissä refers to the process of starch digestion, primarily occurring in the digestive system of many animals, including humans. Starch is a complex carbohydrate, a polysaccharide composed of glucose units linked together. Before it can be absorbed and utilized by the body, it must be broken down into simpler sugars, mainly glucose.

The digestion of starch begins in the mouth, where saliva contains the enzyme amylase. Salivary amylase starts breaking down large starch molecules into smaller polysaccharides and disaccharides, such as maltose. This enzymatic activity continues for a short time until the food is swallowed and the acidic environment of the stomach inactivates salivary amylase.

Further starch digestion resumes in the small intestine. The pancreas secretes pancreatic amylase into the small intestine, which continues the breakdown of remaining starch molecules. Enzymes located on the brush border of the intestinal lining, such as maltase, sucrase, and lactase, then convert disaccharides into monosaccharides, primarily glucose. These monosaccharides are then absorbed through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream and transported to the body's cells for energy. Undigested starch, known as resistant starch, passes through to the large intestine, where it can be fermented by gut bacteria.