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Current Diabetes Reports
Published in: Current Diabetes Reports 10/2016

01-10-2016 | Obesity (J McCaffery, Section Editor)

Salivary Amylase: Digestion and Metabolic Syndrome

Authors: Catherine Peyrot des Gachons, Paul A. S. Breslin

Published in: Current Diabetes Reports | Issue 10/2016

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Abstract

Salivary amylase is a glucose-polymer cleavage enzyme that is produced by the salivary glands. It comprises a small portion of the total amylase excreted, which is mostly made by the pancreas. Amylases digest starch into smaller molecules, ultimately yielding maltose, which in turn is cleaved into two glucose molecules by maltase. Starch comprises a significant portion of the typical human diet for most nationalities. Given that salivary amylase is such a small portion of total amylase, it is unclear why it exists and whether it conveys an evolutionary advantage when ingesting starch. This review will consider the impact of salivary amylase on oral perception, nutrient signaling, anticipatory metabolic reflexes, blood sugar, and its clinical implications for preventing metabolic syndrome and obesity.
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Metadata
Title
Salivary Amylase: Digestion and Metabolic Syndrome
Authors
Catherine Peyrot des Gachons
Paul A. S. Breslin
Publication date
01-10-2016
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Diabetes Reports / Issue 10/2016
Print ISSN: 1534-4827
Electronic ISSN: 1539-0829
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-016-0794-7

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