Functions of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates

• Biomolecules made out of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio.

Functions of Carbohydrates

1. Structural Component

   • Structural Building Material

     • Plants build their cell walls with a complex carbohydrate called cellulose.

     • Animals such as arthropods build their exoskeletons with a complex carbohydrate called chitin.

2. Protein Spare

   • Nervous system uses carbohydrates

     • Lack of carbohydrates causes protein to go through gluconeogenesis (glucose) and be metabolized.

3. Energy Source

   • Fuel for activity

     • Immediate fuel for activity.

     • Sustained energy for aerobic activity.

     • Major energy for high intense activity like weight training or sprinting.

4. Metabolic Primer

   • Carbohydrates are metabolic primers, they are needed to completely burn fat.

     • Incomplete combustion of fat will result in ketone bodies.

     • Fat burns in flame of carbohydrates.

5. CNS Fuel

   • Carbohydrates are the primary fuel of CNS.

     • Acute carbohydrate depletion may cause tunnel vision, nausea, and irritability.

     • Metabolism can adopt to low carb, high fat / protein diet.

FUNCTION: Role in Different Biological Processes

CLASSES OF SUGARS

SIMPLE Carbohydrates

Sugars and their Type + Origin

The Process That Combines Monosaccharides

The Process That Decomposes Polysaccharides (or Polymers in General)

COMPLEX Carbohydrates

Polysaccharides and their Structure Description

Fibers

• Are usually found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains.

• Indigestible Polysaccharides

  • Structural parts of plants

  • Indigestible to humans; lack enzymes to break down bonds

  • Fiber is lost in refined grain products

Health Benefits of Dietary Fiber

• Protects against colon cancer

• Prevents gastrointestinal disease

• Controls high cholesterol

• Reduces inflammation

• Aids in weight loss

• Treats piles

SUGAR STRUCTURE

• Organic Compounds

  • Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen

  • General Formula: (CH₂O)_n

• Classes

  • Aldose — sugar containing aldehyde group

  • Ketose — sugar containing ketone group

Fun fact:

• "tri, tetr, pent, hex" indicates the number of carbons (based on the Greek language)

• "ose" indicates sugar

Naming sugar structures according to the number of carbons in the structure:

• “Aldo”

  — if the covalent bond of O is in the end of the structure (is not in between two Cs)

• “Keto“

  — if the covalent bond of O is in between two Cs

• “tri (3), tetr(4), pent(5), hex(6)”

  — states the number of Cs in the structure

• “ose”

  — add this at the end to convey that the structure is a sugar structure