What Is Amylase? The Enzyme That Digests Starch

Amylase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down the starch in your food into smaller sugars (1,2). In your body, amylase starts working in your mouth and keeps going in your small intestine, so the starch in foods like bread, rice, and potatoes can end up as glucose your body can use (1,2).

This page is part of our guide to digestive enzymes. Below you will learn what amylase is, what it does, which foods it works on, and where you find it in our products.

written and reviewed by Anouk Martini (registered dietician)

Knowledge bank

In short

Amylase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down starch (1,2).
Your salivary glands and your pancreas make amylase (1,2).
Amylase breaks starch into smaller sugars. Other enzymes in your small intestine finish the job and release glucose (2).
Amylase is in our products Lipase Mix and Enzymix.

What is amylase?

Amylase is the name for enzymes that split starch. Starch is a carbohydrate made of long chains of glucose, and it is the main carbohydrate in foods such as bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, oats, and corn. Your body makes two types of amylase: one in your saliva and one in your pancreas (2).

Amylase is also used in supplements. The amylase in our products is not animal-derived, and both products are suitable for vegans.

What does amylase do in the body?

Amylase works in four steps:

In your mouth. Your salivary glands make saliva, which moistens your food. Saliva also has an enzyme that begins to break down starches (1). That enzyme is salivary amylase (2).
In your small intestine. Your pancreas sends a digestive juice with enzymes that break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to your small intestine (1). Pancreatic amylase breaks starch into smaller pieces, such as short chains of glucose (2).
At the lining of your small intestine. Enzymes in the intestinal wall, such as maltase-glucoamylase and sucrase-isomaltase, turn those pieces into single glucose molecules (2).
Absorption. Your body absorbs the sugars. Your blood carries them to your liver, which delivers nutrients to the rest of your body when needed (1).

Which foods does amylase work on?

Amylase works on starch. Foods that contain a lot of starch include:

Bread and baked goods
Pasta and noodles
Rice
Potatoes
Oats and other grains
Corn

When might extra amylase help?

Your body makes its own amylase, so most people never have to think about it. Age, diet, lifestyle, and stress can all affect how well digestion works, and so do the size and type of a meal. Some people take an amylase supplement with starch-rich meals, such as pasta, rice, potatoes, or bread. Amylase supports the breakdown of carbohydrates such as those found in pasta, rice, and potatoes.*

Not sure whether a supplement fits you? Talk to a doctor or dietitian.

Where is amylase in our products?

Amylase is in two Intoleran products:

Lipase Mix provides a focused blend of lipase, amylase (15,000 DU), and protease to support comfortable digestion of fats and everyday meals.* The capsules can be opened and mixed with food, so Lipase Mix suits children ages 2 and up. It is vegan and free from gluten and soy.
Enzymix is a blend of nine digestive enzymes that support the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, lactose, and plant fibers.* Its amylase (20,000 DU), maltase, and glucoamylase help break down starches found in foods such as grains, potatoes, and rice.* Enzymix is suitable for vegetarians and vegans and free of gluten and soy.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Not sure which enzyme you need?

Digestive enzymes each have their own job. Answer a few questions in our supplement advisor and see which products fit your situation. You can also ask our dietitians a question.

When should you talk to a doctor or dietitian?

Do your symptoms persist, are you losing weight without trying, or are you cutting out more and more foods? Talk to your doctor or a dietitian. A supplement does not replace medical advice.

Starch is one kind of carbohydrate. Gluco-amylase also works on starch, and invertase works on sucrose, or table sugar. See all of our digestive enzymes.

Sources

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Your digestive system & how it works [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; last reviewed 2017 Dec. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/digestive-system-how-it-works
Mohan S, Eskandari R, Pinto BM. Naturally occurring sulfonium-ion glucosidase inhibitors and their derivatives: a promising class of potential antidiabetic agents. Acc Chem Res. 2014;47(1):211-25. doi:10.1021/ar400132g