Question

Which of the following component of our food is digested by an enzyme which is present in saliva as well as in pancreatic juice?

Options

• proteins

• fat

• minerals

• carbohydrate

Answer 1

carbohydrate

Explanation:

The nutrient that is broken down by enzymes in both saliva and pancreatic juice is carbohydrate (specifically starch). The specialized enzyme responsible for this is amylase, which is secreted at two different stages of digestion:

• Salivary Amylase: Present in saliva, it begins the digestive process in the mouth by breaking down complex starches into simpler sugars (such as maltose) as you chew.
• Pancreatic Amylase: Present in the pancreatic juice, it is released into the small intestine to complete the digestion of any remaining complex carbohydrates.