Sucrase

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Sucrase (also called Invertase) (EC 3.2.1.10, EC 3.2.1.48) is the enzyme involved in the hydrolysis of sucrose to fructose and glucose. It is secreted by the tips of the villi of the epithelium in the small intestine. Its levels are reduced in response to villi-blunting events such as celiac sprue and the inflammation associated with the disorder. The levels increase in Pregnancy/Lactation and Diabetes as the villi hypertrophy.

Sucrose itself is a non-reducing sugar and therefore will not test positive with Benedict's solution. In order to test for sucrose, the enzyme sucrase is mixed with the sample. The sucrose is hydrolised into glucose and fructose, which are both reducing sugars, and as such will test positive with Benedict's solution.

Sucrose intolerance (also known as Congenital Sucrase-Isomaltase Deficiency (CSID) or Sucrase-isomaltase deficiency) occurs when sucrase is not secreted in the small intestine . With sucrose intolerance, the result of consuming sucrose is excess gas production and often diarrhea and malabsorption.