Approximately what percentage of carbohydrates are broken down into monosaccharides before leaving the stomach?

The correct answer indicates that approximately 60-80% of carbohydrates are broken down into monosaccharides before leaving the stomach. This reflects the digestive process that begins in the mouth and continues in the stomach, where enzymes break down complex carbohydrates.

Carbohydrate digestion starts with salivary amylase in the mouth, which begins to break down starches into simpler sugars. Although the primary digestion of carbohydrates occurs in the small intestine, a significant amount of this breakdown happens before the contents leave the stomach due to the acidic environment that deactivates salivary amylase but allows for gastric secretion to further assist in the process.

By the time the chyme reaches the small intestine, a substantial portion of carbohydrates has already been converted to monosaccharides—simple sugars that are necessary for absorption into the bloodstream. The range of 60-80% reflects a realistic estimate of carbohydrate digestion efficiency in this process, affirming the importance of initial starch breakdown in the digestive journey.