Maltose (Noun)
Meaning
A white crystalline sugar formed during the digestion of starches.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Maltose is the most commonly used disaccharide in food industries for its easy metabolism and accessible structure.
- During the process of hydrolysis in beer production, enzymes break down starches into maltose and further into fermentable sugars.
- A significant amount of maltose is formed when pancreatic amylase partially digests glycogen, and is consequently absorbed in the small intestine.
- Sprouted grains show increased levels of maltose compared to the unsprouted variants, due to quicker breakdown of starches during the germination process.
- Gastropod saliva, particularly of some wood-boring species, uses enzymes to break down starches into maltose before digestion.