The chemical process of digestion of carbohydrates is initiated in the oral cavity by the hydrolytic action of the carbohydrate splitting enzyme, the salivary amylase. About 30 % of starch is hydrolysed here by this enzyme (optimum pH 6.8) into a disaccharide-maltose. Further, carbohydrates in the chyme are hydrolysed by pancreatic amylase into disaccharides.