Starch and Sucrose

What are Starch and Sucrose?

Sucrose consists of two linked carbohydrate molecules: glucose and fructose. Starch consists of long chains of linked carbohydrate molecules. In the small intestine, starch and sucrose are broken down using enzymes in order to be properly absorbed into the blood.

If these enzymes are absent or only present to a limited extent, sucrose and starch cannot be absorbed in the small intestine. Both substances then enter the colon where fermentation takes place due to the intestinal bacteria present there. The fermentation process often releases gas and attracts moisture.

Starch and sucrose may be a risk factor for the development of gas in the intestines in some people.

Which foods contain Starch and Sucrose?

Both sucrose and starch are found in many foods. For example, sucrose is found in fruit and table sugar while starch is found in all cereal products and potatoes. Examples of foods that contain (a lot of) sucrose or starch are:

• Table sugar
• Fruits, such as apple, banana, mango, pear, orange, and watermelon
• Vegetables, such as corn, beet root, carrot, sweet potato, carrot and onion
• Bread
• Rice, pasta, and other pasta
• Processed foods, such as cookies, sweets, and sauces.

Sucrose is added to an awful lot of processed foods. It is usually listed on the label in the nutrition table as ‘Carbohydrates, of which sugars’.

How do you deal with Starch and Sucrose?

If starch and sucrose are risk factors for you for developing intestinal gas, there are fortunately a number of things you can do about this. One of the things you can do is adjust your diet.

Dietary adjustments

By limiting the consumption of foods rich in starch and/or sucrose, you can reduce the risk of gas. It can vary from person to person which types of food pose a risk of gas formation. In general, sucrose often poses a greater risk of gas formation than starch.

Finding out which foods pose a risk for you is often quite a quest. But if all goes well, you will eventually get to know your body and know which foods pose a risk of forming gas for you. If you find this difficult, a dietician can help you with this.

Supplements

Legislation regarding health claims on dietary supplements, cosmetic products and medical devices unfortunately prevents us from providing information on the use of supplements (containing digestive enzymes).