Overview Overview dietary carbohydrates include polysaccharides, disaccharides, and monosaccharides intestinal epithelial cells absorb only monosaccharides login to view 1 more bullet Digestion of dietary polysaccharides salivary secretions salivary α-amylase initiates digestion of polysaccharides in mouth login to view 2 more bullets salivary α-amylase plays a minimal role in digestion of carbohydrates login to view 1 more bullet pancreatic secretions pancreatic juices are secreted into lumen of duodenum of small intestine pancreatic α-amylase initiates digestion of polysaccharides in the small intestines login to view 2 more bullets intestinal mucosa intestinal brush border enzymes initiate digestion of disaccharides to monosaccharides login to view 3 more bullets intestinal epithelial cells absorb glucose, a monosaccharide Digestion of dietary disaccharides dietary disaccharides include trehalose, lactose, and sucrose dietary disaccharides do not require α-amylase digestion intestinal brush border enzymes initiate digestion of disaccharides to monosaccharides trehalase catalyzes trehalose → glucose + glucose lactase catalyzes lactose → glucose + galactose sucrase catalyzes sucrose → glucose + fructose intestinal epithelial cells absorb glucose, galactose, and fructose, all monosaccharides