Maltase

See also :

• Digestive Enzymes

Other Names : (EC 3.2.1.20, alpha-glucosidase, glucoinvertase, glucosidosucrase, maltase-glucoamylase, alpha-glucopyranosidase, glucosidoinvertase, alpha-D-glucosidase, alpha-glucoside hydrolase, alpha-1,4-glucosidase, alpha-D-glucoside glucohydrolase)
Maltase is an enzyme that breaks down the disaccharide maltose.Maltase catalyzes the hydrolysis of maltose to the simple sugar glucose. This enzyme is found in plants, bacteria, and yeast. Acid maltase deficiency is categorized into three separate types based on the age of onset of symptoms in the affected individual. In most cases, it is equivalent to alpha-glucosidase, but the term "maltase" emphasizes the disaccharide nature of the substrate from which glucose is cleaved, and "alpha-glucosidase" emphasizes the bond, whether the substrate is a disaccharide or polysaccharide[citation needed]. In humans, maltase will break down the alpha form of the maltose. Humans are only able to break down the alpha forms of carbohydrates.

Health Benefits and uses of Maltase are

• May act as a preventative and support mechanism for digestive complaints in autistic children : Research is now emerging more and more in support of the use of digestive enzymes such as maltase for children with autism spectrum disorders. Studies confirm that many autistic children show a correlation with lowered intestinal disaccharide activity. This is related to the presence of enzymes such as maltase in the gut. Because children with autism show reduced amounts of maltase, studies are now looking into supplementing with the maltase enzyme to help their symptoms. A recent study found that over half of a sampling of 36 autistic children were found to have gastrointestinal disorders related to a lack of enzymes in the gut. Similarly, gastrointestinal biopsies show that these same children suffer from chronic irritation of the stomach, duodenum and esophagus, a common symptom of a lack of enzymes.¹
• May act as a preventive mechanism and support for chronic diarrhea : Studies on patients with chronic diarrhea show reduced amounts of digestive enzymes like maltase (as well as lactase and sucrase). These studies suggest that a lack of maltase, as well as other important enzymes may be a causative factor behind the classic roots of chronic diarrhea. This research suggests that maltase enzyme supplementation may reduce irritation and excess gut mucosal secretions.²
• Prevention of digestive upset associated with congenital digestive conditions : Scientists are now understanding the link between genetics and the digestive system. Some children and infants have chronic diarrhea, as well as cramping and abdominal distension. This, if left untreated, can lead to digestive imbalances all throughout life, and into adulthood. These people are unable to properly break down the disaccharide sucrose. Studies suggest that the use of fungal-derived maltase in human studies have shown significant clinical improvements in children with these extremely challenging digestive conditions. This research further suggests a clear link between the use of carbohydrate enzymes like maltase as a useful treatment for supporting digestive upset associated with enzyme deficiencies. Moreover, what each of these clinical studies suggests is that enzymes help all of us digest better on a daily basis. Without them, disease ensues.

References

• Horvath K, Papadimitriou JC, Rabsztyn A, Drachenberg C, Tildon JT. Gastrointestinal abnormalities in children with autistic disorder. J Pediatr. 1999 Nov;135(5):559-63.
• Treem WR, Ahsan N, Sullivan B, Rossi T, Holmes R, Fitzgerald J, Proujansky R, Hyams J. Evaluation of liquid yeast-derived sucrase enzyme replacement in patients with sucrase-isomaltase deficiency. Gastroenterology. 1993 Oct;105(4):1061-8.
• David Wolfson, ND, Stephen Olmstead, MD, Dennis Meiss, PhD, Janet Ralston. Making sense of digestive enzymes (PDF). Klaire Labs. 2008.