Disaccharidases are enzymes that break disaccharides down into monosaccharides for digestion. Disaccharidases are located in
the brush border membrane (microvilli) of the small intestine.
Gastrointestinal symptoms often result when disaccharides cannot be properly digested due to a deficiency of the corresponding disaccharidase. This may occur if there has been damage to the microvilli of the small intestine, leading to inadequate production of the enzymes. Damage to the microvilli may be the result of inflammation resulting from intestinal infection (enteritis), due to a virus (rotavirus), a bacterium (Giardialamblia), or an intestinal parasite. It may also be the result of a food allergy, gluten enteropathy (celiac disease), Crohn’s disease, long-term use of strong antibiotics, or from chronic diarrhea.
Sucrose (table sugar) = glucose + fructose. Requires sucrase for digestion
Maltose (beer sugar) = glucose + glucose. Requires glucoamylase for digestion
Lactose (milk sugar) = galactose + glucose. Requires lactase for digestion
Palatinose (isomaltulose) = glucose + fructose. Requires palatinase for digestion
The two polysaccharides amylose and amylopectin (starches) also require Glucoamylase for digestion.
Sucrase deficiency – avoid table sugar (white and brown) and all sweets/desserts
(soda, candy, honey, syrup, jam jelly, desserts)
Glucoamylase deficiency – avoid beer, malt beverages, root beer, and starches
(bagels, bread, buns, tortillas, pasta, rice, waffles, potatoes, corn, peas, squash, soup)
Lactase deficiency – avoid milk and all dairy products
(milk, yogurt, cheese, butter, cream, half and half, sherbet, ice cream pudding)
Palatinase deficiency – avoid potatoes, pasta, and starches
(bagels, bread, buns, tortillas, pasta, rice, waffles, potatoes, corn, peas, squash, soup)
Reference: Aspirus Nutrition Counseling
