Module 5 Study Guide: Carbohydrates
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Definitions
Carbohydrates: class of nutrients that includes glucose, a major source of energy for the body
Monosaccharide: simple sugar that is the basic chemical unit of carbohydrates
Disaccharide: simple sugar composed of two monosaccharides
monosaccharide that is a primary fuel for muscles and other cells; “dextrose” or “blood
Glucose:
sugar”
Fructose: monosaccharide in fruits, honey, and certain vegetables; “levulose” or “fruit sugar”
Galactose: monosaccharide that is a component of lactose
Maltose: disaccharide composed of two glucose molecules; “malt sugar”
Sucrose: disaccharide composed of a glucose and a fructose molecule; “table sugar”
Lactose: disaccharide composed of a glucose and a galactose molecule; “milk sugar”
Added Sugar: sugars added to foods during processing or preparation.
Alternative substances that sweeten foods while providing few or no kilocalories
Sweeteners:
Polysaccharides: compounds composed of monosaccharides bonded together forming large chainlike
structures
Starch: storage polysaccharide in plants.
Glycogen: storage polysaccharide in animals.
Dietary Fiber: nondigestible plant material; most types are polysaccharides
Salivary Amylase: enzyme secreted by salivary glands that begins starch digestion.
Pancreatic Amylase: enzyme secreted by pancreas that breaks down starch into maltose molecules.
Insulin: hormone that helps regulate blood glucose levels.
Glucagon: hormone that helps regulate blood glucose levels.
Questions
1) Carbohydrates serve various needs in the human body. List and briefly explain six functions of carbohydrates.
1) to supply energy and regulate blood glucose level
2) fatty acid breakdown and prevention of ketosis.
3) prevention of protein use for energy
4) biological recognition process
5) act as flavors and sweeteners
6) used as dietary fiber.
2) Many forms of monosaccharides exist, but three are most common in the human diet. List the three most
common monosaccharides and describe their source and use in the human body.
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Monosaccharide Description
Glucose Glucose is the primary source for the muscles and
cells. Red blood cells, nervous system cells which
includes the brain cells that feeds off of glucose for
energy.
Fructose Fructose is sweeter than glucose and is found in fruits
ti makes them taste better. The body has a bit of a
need for it and can convert monosaccharide to fat or
glucose.
Galactose Monosaccharide that is a component of lactose which
is a form of carbohydrate in milk. It also will develop
when a woman gives birth that converts glucose into
galactose because of the production of lactose.
3) Many forms of disaccharides exist, but three are most common in the human diet. List the three most
common disaccharides, what two monosaccharides they contain, and describe their source and use in the
human body.
Disaccharide Description
Maltose (Malt or beer sugar) Comes from two glucose
molecules joining, unlike some other disaccharides,
does not serve a specific purpose in the human body.
The sugar alcohol form of maltose is maltitol, which is
used in sugar-free foods. Of course, maltose is a sugar,
but it is incompletely digested and absorbed by the
body (50–60%).
Sucrose (Table sugar) Comes fromglucose and fructose joining.
Provides your body with the energy required to
perform physical and mental functions.
Lactose Lactose is the principal sugar (or carbohydrate)
naturally found in milk and dairy. Lactose is composed
of glucose and galactose, two simpler sugars used as
energy directly by our body. Lactase, an enzyme, splits
lactose into glucose and galactose.
4) Many forms of polysaccharides exist, but three are most common in the human diet. List the three most
common polysaccharides, if possible what monosaccharides they contain, and describe their source and use in
the human body.
Polysaccharide Description
Starch Starch is a storage polysaccharide in plants, consists
entirely of glucose monomers, and they coil into a
helical shape.
Glycogen Glycogen is how animals store excess sugar in the form
of another glucose polysaccharide called glycogen,
stored in the liver and muscle cells.
Fiber Complex carbohydrates composed of
monosaccharides, which are connected by bonds that
humans cant digest. Fiber rich foods are filling
eliminating the need for sugary snack and junk food.
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5) You eat a bran muffin topped with brown sugar for breakfast. Summarize the process of carbohydrate
digestion by explaining what happens to the muffin as it enters your mouth and passes though your
gastrointestinal tract. Be sure to include the accessory organs and enzymes that help in carbohydrate digestion.
When eating the bran muffin, enzymes are released to help digest process and breaking down the
starch. When the bran muffin goes to the liver, it receives glucose molecules. When it reaches the
stomach, it starts breaking down into smaller pieces. Then in the pancreas enzymes are secreted into the
small intestines also, the amino acids will be absorbed into the blood stream. The small intestines will
have a variety will keep breaking down into even smaller pieces which turns into amino acids. The large
intestine will turn it into a pureed texture that will lead into the colon and out of the body.
6) The final products of carbohydrate digestion, whether you eat foods with mono, di, or polysaccharides are
monosaccharides, especially glucose. What are the different ways your body uses the glucose it absorbs from
your food?
When your blood glucose rises after you eat, the beta cells release insulin into your bloodstream. Insulin acts like
a key, unlocking muscle, fat, and liver cells so glucose can get inside them. Most of the cells in your body use
glucose along with amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and fats for [Link] a meal, the blood sugar
(glucose) level rises as carbohydrate is digested. This signals the beta cells of the pancreas to release insulin into
the bloodstream. Insulin helps glucose enter the body's cells to be used for energy.
7) Although carbohydrates are necessary, most people eat way too many refined and added sugars in their diet.
What food sources are good choices for carbohydrates and what foods should we especially avoid?
Instead of drinking the sugary cocktail juice, you should buy 100% juice from a store. People should
avoid the foods/ drinks that contain large amounts of refined carbohydrates which includes added
sugars. Most foods that have refined carbohydrates are easy on the go products and meal planning with
healthier foods can help cut that back.
8) Around 24 million Americans have diabetes. What is happening in the body that causes diabetes (Type I and
II), what are the symptoms, and what can people do to treat diabetes?
Symptoms:
Irritability, frequent urination, weight loss with greater food intake, blurred vision, poor wound healing.
Treatments:
No such thing as a treatment for type 1 diabetes. Some things to help the disease are monitoring
glucose, exercise, eating healthy foods and portion control. Some have strict meal plan.
9) Metabolic Syndrome and Lactose Intolerance are two medical conditions associated with carbohydrates.
Complete the table below explaining the causes, symptoms, and treatments for each.
Condition Cause Symptoms Treatments/Lifestyle
Change
Metabolic Syndrome Intra abdominal obesity or increased waist size, can be managed or even
android obesity,insulin high blood pressure, reversed through a
resistance, dyslipidemia- elevated glucose, healthy diet and regular
high blood levels of elevated exercise. The best foods
triglycerides,low blood triglycerides, and to eat on a metabolic
levels of HDL cholesterol, decreased syndrome diet are
hypertension lipoprotein vegetables, healthy fats,
cholesterol (LDL). and whole grains. People
with metabolic syndrome
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should avoid foods high in
sugar, simple
carbohydrates, and
sodium.
Lactose Intolerance lactose intolerant people Bloating/wind and Avoid or limit milk
lack the lactase enzyme diarrhea. products.
which hydrolyses lactose
into glucose and galactose,
meaning that they suffer a
variety of symptoms.
10) A diet high in fiber is recommended in the Dietary Guidelines. What are three benefits of eating foods with
lots of fiber?
Helps detox the colon, keeps this flowing to reach the colon and weight control.
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