Is it true that organisms need water, vitamins and minerals. but they do not need salt to function.

These molecules are maltose and glucose.

Digestion of starch begins first in the mouth when salivary amylase, an enzyme found in the mouth begins to break down starch.  The starch is broken down to maltose which is a disaccharide. The mixture of partially digested starch is swallowed into the stomach and passes on into the small intestine.

The enzyme pancreatic amylase from the pancreas then acts on the remaining starch and breaks it into maltose.  Finally the enzyme maltase in the lining of the small intestine breaks down maltose to glucose which is then absorbed into the blood stream.