| They also secrete the enzymes disaccharidase and peptidase that hydrolyze disaccharides and polypeptides to monosaccharides and dipeptides to amino acids, respectively. |
| Lactase is a disaccharidase that breaks down lactose into glucose and galactose. |
| They may be useful during periods of secondary disaccharidase deficiency due to acute enteritis or chronic conditions affecting the integrity of the small intestine such as diarrhea, enteropathies and Crohn's disease. |
