Carbohydrates: Definition, Types, Functions, Classification & Examples Of Carbohydrates

What Are Carbohydrates?

Carbohydrates are organic molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; in most cases, the hydrogen-to-oxygen atomic ratio is 2:1 (this is the same ratio as water). They are vital to numerous basic physiological processes. Carbohydrates can be broadly classified into two main groups, simple and complex, although there are several other classifications including glycans.

Classification Of Carbohydrates

There are numerous ways to classify carbohydrates. One common way is to group them by the number of sugar moieties they contain:

Monosaccharides

The simplest form of carbohydrates is monosaccharides. They are single sugar units and cannot be hydrolyzed into simpler sugars. Common examples include:

1. Glucose: The major energy source of cells.

2. Fructose: Found in fruits and honey.

3. Galactose: Part of lactose in milk.

Disaccharides

Two monosaccharides are condensed to form one disaccharide by the formation of a glycosidic bond. Common disaccharides

1. Sucrose: Composed of glucose and fructose; table sugar

2. Lactose: Composed of glucose and galactose; milk sugar

3. Maltose: Composed of two glucose units; malt sugar produced during the digestion of starches

Polysaccharides

Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides united by glycosidic bonds. They perform the functions of energy storage and structural material:

1. Starch is a storage polysaccharide of glucose in plants

2. Glycogen is the storage polysaccharide of glucose in animals

3. Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide of glucose found in plant cell walls providing rigidity

Examples of Carbohydrates

The important examples of carbohydrates are given below:

• Glucose
• Galactose
• Maltose
• Fructose
• Sucrose
• Lactose
• Starch
• Cellulose
• Chitin

Functions Of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates carry out the following important functions:

1. Source of Energy: Carbohydrates serve as the main source of energy for cellular respiration. They yield a chemical called ATP, which is employed as energy.

2. Energy Storage: In animals, glucose is stored as glycogen, while in plants, it is stored in the form of starch.

3. Structural: It provides strength to plant cell walls. Another polysaccharide is chitin, which shows similar functions in fungi and arthropods.

Metabolism Of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates undergo oxidation and produce carbon dioxide along with water through the use of several metabolic pathways:

1. Glycolysis: It refers to the breaking of glucose to derive energy.

2. Gluconeogenesis: It is the generation of glucose from other sources instead of from carbohydrates.

3. Glycogenesis: This refers to the process of converting glucose into glycogen for storage.

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Carbohydrates In Health

Carbohydrates are essential to health, but their consumption needs to be balanced:

• Dietary Fiber: These are carbohydrates indigestible by human digestive systems yet are very important in regulating gut flow and blood sugar levels.

• Diabetes: A disease condition caused by a malfunction in carbohydrate metabolism, resulting in blood glucose levels being raised.

Current Research Trends

The research in the field of carbohydrates is growing and is focused on:

• Glycobiology: It is a study dealing with the role of carbohydrates in the biological functioning of the body and their participation in cellular processes.

• Functional Foods: Carbohydrate-based foods, for example, whole grains and legumes, exhibit some beneficial effects on health.

Ethical Issues

Ethical issues related to carbohydrate studies involve the following:

1. Food Labelling: Accurate declaration of carbohydrate content is made while labelling food products.

2. Dietary Recommendations: These dietary carbohydrate suggestions have an impact on public health.