Definition, Sources, Properties and Functions of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates

Called sugars and starches, are polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones, or Compounds that can be hydrolyzed to them.

Disaccharides

Are composed of two monosaccharide units joined together

Polysaccharides

Are composed of three or more monosaccharide units joined together

Photosynthesis

Carbohydrates are synthesized in green plants by _____________ whereby energy from the sun is stored as chemical energy in carbohydrates.

Burst of Energy

In the body, they are used for ___________ needed during exercise in the form of glucose

Metabolism

Energy is released in ___________

Monosaccharides

The simplest carbohydrates, generally have 3 to 6 C atoms in a chain with an aldehyde or ketone ending and many -OH groups

Aldoses

Aldehyde monosaccharides are ____________

Ketoses

Ketone monosaccharides are __________

Glyceraldehyde

The simplest aldose is ______________

Dihydroxyacetone

The simplest Ketose is ___________

Constitutional Isomers

Glyceraldehyde and Dihydroxyacetone are ____________ of each other, sharing the formula C3H6O3

Triose

Has 3 C’s

Tetrose

Has 4 C’s

Pentose

Has 5 C’s

Hexose

Has 6 C’s

Aldotriose

Glyceraldehyde is an ___________

Ketotriose

Dihydroxyacetone is a _____________

Sweet tasting

Monosaccharides are ___________, but their relative sweetness varies greatly.

Polar, with high melting points

Monosaccharides are ___________ compounds ______________.

Very water soluble

The presence of so many polar functional groups capable of hydrogen bonding makes the monosaccharides _________________

Supply energy

The primary role of Carbohydrates is to _______________ to all cells in the body.

Muscle and Liver

Glucose energy is stored as Glycogen, with the majority of it in the _____________.

Sugars, Starches

___________and ___________ provide glucose, the main energy source for the body.

Healthy Sources of Carbohydrates

Include both food sources-animal and plant products, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, corn, potatoes, milk, and milk products.

Unhealthy Sources of Carbohydrates

Include soda, white bread, artificial sugar, pastries, and other highly processed foods.

Cellulose

From plants

Starches

Found in pasta, bread and grains

Chitin

From insects and other arthropods

Sucrose

Table sugar

(CH2O)n

General formula of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates

Are also called Carbs, are defined as aldehydic or ketonic compounds with some number of oxydrilic groups (so polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones as well)

Monosaccharides

Simply sugars are formed by only one polyhydroxy aldehydic or ketonic unit.

D-glucose

The most abundant monosaccharide is _____________, also called dextrose.

Oligosaccharides

Are formed by short chains of monosaccharide units (from 2 to 20) linked one to the next by chemical bonds called glycosidic bonds.

Glycosidic bonds

Oligosaccharides are formed by short chains of monosaccharide units (from 2 to 20) linked one to the next by chemical bonds called _______________.

Disaccharides

The most abundant oligosaccharides are ____________, formed by two monosaccharides, and especially in the human diet the most important are sucrose (common table sugar), lactose and maltose.

Glycoconjugates

Within cells many Oligosaccharides formed by three or more units do not find themselves as free molecules but linked to other ones, lipids or proteins, to form________________.

Polysaccharides

Are polymers consisting of 20 to 10^7 monosaccharide units; they differ each other for the monosaccharides recurring in the structure for the length and the degree of branching of chains or for the type of links between units.

Homopolysaccharides

If they contain only one type of monosaccharide as starch, glycogen, and chitin.

Heteropolysaccharides

Instead, contain two or more different kinds (e.g. hyaluronic acid)

“Sakcharon”

The term “saccharide” derives from the greek word ___________, which means sugar.

Monosaccharides and Disaccharides

Simple: (also known as “Sugars”)

Trisaccharides and Tetrasaccharides

Simple: (also known as “Oligosaccharides”)

Polysaccharides

Complex:

Glucose

Available as Monosaccharides

Galactose

Available as Monosaccharides

Fructose

Available as Monosaccharides

Sucrose

Available as Disaccharides or Oligosaccharides

Maltose

Available as Disaccharides or Oligosaccharides

Lactose

Available as Disaccharides or Oligosaccharides

Maltodextrin

Available as Disaccharides or Oligosaccharides

Cellulose

Available as Polysaccharides

Starch

Available as Polysaccharides

Glycogen

Available as Polysaccharides

Xylose

not available as (Monosaccharide)

Lactulose

Not available as (see lactose)

Raffinose

Not available as (di- and trisaccharide)

Fiber

Cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, pectins)

Intestinal Flora

The members of this class, also if ingested are not digestible nor absorbable and will me fermented by ______________ with the release of short-chain fatty acids and so yielding some energy.