Final answer:
The digestion of carbohydrates involves enzymes such as amylase, which breaks down starch; maltase, which converts maltose to glucose; sucrase, which hydrolyzes sucrose into glucose and fructose; and lactase, which converts lactose into glucose and galactose. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The digestion and absorption of carbohydrates involve several key enzymes that process dietary sugars into simpler forms that the body can absorb. These enzymes are specific to the types of sugar they act upon.
- Amylase (— also called ptyalin —), begins the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth by breaking down starch into smaller polysaccharides and disaccharides, and is continued by pancreatic amylase in the small intestine.
- Maltase is present in the brush border of the small intestine and acts on maltose, converting it into glucose, which is readily absorbed into the bloodstream.
- Sucrase breaks down sucrose (table sugar), a common disaccharide made of glucose and fructose, into its monosaccharide components.
- Lactase is responsible for the hydrolysis of lactose (milk sugar) into glucose and galactose. Insufficient levels of lactase lead to lactose intolerance.
The monosaccharides resulting from these enzymatic actions — glucose, fructose, and galactose — are ultimately absorbed into the bloodstream and utilized by the body for energy.