carbohydrate

(noun)

A sugar, starch, or cellulose that is a food source of energy for an animal or plant; a saccharide.

Related Terms

  • saccharide
  • glucose

Examples of carbohydrate in the following topics:

  • Carbohydrates: Sources, Uses in the Body, and Dietary Requirements

    • Carbohydrates, which break down to glucose, are a major source of energy for humans, but are not an essential nutrient.
    • Carbohydrates are a common source of energy in living organisms , however, a carbohydrate is not an essential nutrient in humans.
    • Carbohydrate and protein contain 4 kilocalories per gram, while fats contain 9 kilocalories per gram.
    • Organisms typically cannot metabolize all types of carbohydrate to yield energy.
    • Called "dietary fiber," these carbohydrates enhance digestion, among other benefits.
  • Digestive Processes of the Small Intestine

    • The small intestine uses different enzymes and processes to digest proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates.
    • The three major classes of nutrients that undergo digestion are proteins, lipids (fats), and carbohydrates.
    • Pancreatic amylase breaks down some carbohydrates (notably starch) into oligosaccharides.
    • Other carbohydrates pass undigested into the large intestine, where they are digested by intestinal bacteria.
    • Some carbohydrates, such as cellulose, are not digested at all, despite being made of multiple glucose units.
  • Pancreatic Juice

    • Pancreatic fluid contains digestive enzymes that help to further break down the carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids in the chyme.
    • These enzymes help to further break down the carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids in the chyme.
    • Pancreatic fluid or juice contains digestive enzymes that pass to the small intestine where they help to further break down the carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids (fats) in the chyme.
  • Metabolic Changes

    • Protein and carbohydrate metabolism are affected during pregnancy and maternal insulin resistance can lead to gestational diabetes.
    • During pregnancy, both protein metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism are affected.
  • Chemical Digestion of Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, and Nucleic Acids

  • Absorption of Monosaccharides, Amino Acids, Dipeptides, Tripeptides, Lipids, Electrolytes, Vitamins, and Water

    • The three major classes of nutrients that undergo digestion are proteins, lipids (fats), and carbohydrates.
    • Some carbohydrates are degraded into simple sugars, or monosaccharides (e.g., glucose).
    • Pancreatic amylase breaks down some carbohydrates (notably starch) into oligosaccharides.
    • Other carbohydrates pass undigested into the large intestine for further handling by intestinal bacteria.
    • Some carbohydrates, such as cellulose, are not digested at all despite being made of multiple glucose units.
  • Digestive Processes of the Large Intestine

    • Without gut flora, the human body would be unable to utilize some of the undigested carbohydrates it consumes; some types of gut flora have enzymes that human cells lack for breaking down certain polysaccharides.
    • Carbohydrates requiring bacterial assistance in digestion include:
    • Bacteria turn carbohydrates they ferment into short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by a form of fermentation called saccharolytic fermentation.
  • Absorption in the Small Intestine

    • Examples of nutrients absorbed by the small intestine include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, iron, vitamins, and water.
    • The epithelial cells of the villi transport nutrients from the lumen of the intestine into these capillaries (amino acids and carbohydrates) and lacteals (lipids).
  • Pancreas

    • These enzymes help to further break down the carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids in the chyme.
    • These enzymes help to further break down the carbohydrates, proteins and lipids (fats) in the chyme.
  • Blood Supply to the Liver

    • Here, carbohydrates and amino acids can be stored or used to make new proteins and carbohydrates.
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