What makes the digestion of carbohydrates, which paused in the stomach, resume in the duodenum? The duodenum contains symbiotic bacteria that increase the efficacy of pancreatic amylase. The duodenum receives gastric juices that neutralize the alkali in the chyme so that pancreatic amylase can be effective. The duodenum receives pancreatic juices that neutralize the acids in chyme so that pancreatic amylase can be effective.