[Physiology of carbohydrate absorption (author's transl)].

The only enzymatic mechanism concerning carbohydrates in the chymus is starch decomposition by enzymes in the saliva and pancreatic juice, In contrast to the chymus the enterocytes dispose of all necessary enzymatic activities in their brush border, above all for disaccharide splitting. Furthermore these activities show relatively fast physiological adaptation. The activity of the disaccharidases and the transport of glucose depend on luminal sodium concentration. The transport of glucose and galactose takes place by active mechanisms, the transport of fructose by facilitated diffusion, other monosaccharides are absorbed passively.