What is the main enzyme responsible for starch digestion?

The main enzyme responsible for starch digestion is amylase. This enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch into sugars, primarily by breaking the alpha bonds of the polysaccharide chains found in starch. Salivary amylase, produced in the saliva, initiates this process in the mouth, while pancreatic amylase continues the digestion of starch in the small intestine.

Understanding the role of amylase is crucial because starch is a complex carbohydrate that needs to be broken down into simpler sugars, like maltose and glucose, for absorption into the bloodstream. The presence of this enzyme is vital for proper carbohydrate metabolism, making it an essential component of digestive physiology.

Other enzymes listed, such as pepsin, trypsin, and lipase, serve different digestive roles. Pepsin digests proteins, trypsin is involved in further protein digestion in the small intestine, and lipase is responsible for the digestion of fats. Thus, their functions are distinct and do not overlap with the role of amylase in starch digestion.