Question

Describe where and how the body would break down surcose?

Answer 1

Sucrase breaks down sucrose (or “table sugar”) into glucose and fructose, and lactase breaks down lactose (or “milk sugar”) into glucose and galactose. The monosaccharides (glucose) thus produced are absorbed and then can be used in metabolic pathways to harness energy.

Answer 2

Sucrose passes through your mouth and stomach virtually undigested. Once it enters the initial part of your small intestine, an enzyme called sucrase is secreted from the mucosal membrane. Sucrase breaks down sucrose by cleaving it in half, which produces one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose. The glucose is immediately absorbed into the bloodstream and transported around the body. In contrast, fructose is also absorbed in the small intestine, but it’s shuttled to the liver where it spends more time either being reduced into glucose, stored as glycogen or converted into lipids. In addition to sucrase, another enzyme called isomaltose glycoside hydrolase can also help facilitate the breakdown of sucrose. Overall, sucrose is readily assimilated and produces a quick boost of energy -- about 3.94 kilocalories of energy per gram.