CARBOHYDRATES
ERICKA L. UBAS BSN-1E
MONOSACCHARIDES
Monosaccharides are simple sugars which
cannot be broken down into other sugars. They
are categorized according to the number of
carbon atoms.
a. Triose – a three carbon sugars which
is produced from the breakdown of hexoses.
b Tetroses – a four carbon sugar. One
example is erythrose which is an intermediate
of hexose monophosphate shunt for the
oxidation of glucose.
c. Pentoses – are five carbon sugar. The
most important examples are ribose and
deoxyribose which are found in nucleic acid.
Ribose form part of the ribonucleic acid (RNA)
and deoxyribose in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
which are components of every cell nucleus and
cytoplasm
d. Hexoses – a six carbon sugar.
Examples are glucose, galactose and fructose
with the same molecular formula but differ in
structures (isomers).
1. Glucose is an aldohexose. It is commonly
known as dextrose or a grape sugar. It is a white
crystalline solid that is soluble in water but
insoluble in organic liquids. It is found in the
human bloodstream and tissue fluids. It
requires no digestion and can be given
intravenously to patients who are unable to
take food by mouth.
Glycosuria – is a condition where glucose can
be found in the urine.
2. Galactose – a monosaccharide is also an
aldohexose. It differs from glucose in the
structure (epimer). D-galactose is converted to
glucose in the liver by the enzyme epimerase.
Galactosemia –a severe inherited
disease, results in the inability of infants to
metabolize galactose because of the deficiency
of enzyme galactokinase.
Galactosuria – a condition where
increase of galactose in the urine.
3. Fructose – is a ketohexose also known as
levulose or a fruit sugar. It occurs naturally in
fruit juices and honey. It is sweeter than
glucose. It is prepared by the hydrolysis of
sucrose and inulin.
Fructosemia – fructose intolerance, an
inherited disease due to the deficiency of
enzyme fructose 1-phosphate aldolase. An
infant suffering from the disease experiences
hypoglycemia, vomiting and severe
malnutrition. Such condition is treated to a low-
fructose diet.
DISACCHARIDES
1. Sucrose –or cane sugar, sugar ordinarily used at
home. It is produced commercially from sugar cane
and sugar beets. It occurs in sorghum, pineapple and
in carrots roots.
When hydrolyzed, it forms glucose and
fructose. Invert sugar is a 50-50 mixture of glucose
and fructose. Honey contains a high percent of invert
sugar.
2. Maltose – commonly known as malt sugar, is
present in germinating grain. It is produced
commercially from the hydrolysis of starch.
 CARBOHYDRATES
ERICKA L. UBAS BSN-1E

3. Lactose – commonly known as milk sugar, is Glycogenesis is a process where glycogen is formed
present in milk. It differs from the preceding sugars in the body cells from the molecules of glucose.
in that it has an animal origin. Certain bacteria cause
lactose to ferment, forming lactic acid. When Glycogenolysis is a process when glycogen is
reaction occurs, the milk becomes sour. Lactose is hydrolyzed into glucose.
used in high calcium diets and in infant foods.
glycogenesis
Lactose can be found in the urine of pregnant
women. glucose glycogen

Sucrose and maltose will ferment with yeast owing glycogenolysis

to the presence of enzymes sucrase and maltase.
Lactose will not ferment with yeast because of the
absence of the enzyme lactase.
POLYSACCHARIDES
Polysaccharides are polymers of monosaccharides.
Complete hydrolysis of polysaccharides produces
many molecules of monosaccharides.
4. Dextrin – is produced during the hydrolysis of
starch. It is an intermediate between starch and
maltose. It forms sticky colloidal suspension with
water and is used in the preparation of adhesives.
The glue at the back of a postage stamp is dextrin.
Dextrin is used when digestion of starch is a problem
with infants and elderly persons.

1. Starch – is a mixture of polysaccharides 5. Heparin – is a polysaccharide used as blood anti-

amylopectin and amylose. Amylopectin is a branched coagulant. It is the strongest organic acid present in
polysaccharide in starch in large amount (80-85%) the human body.
while amylose is a nonbranched polysaccharide(15-
20%). Starch is insoluble in water. 6. Dextran – is a polysaccharide produced from
certain bacteria when they are grown on sucrose. It
In iodine test, starch gives a deep blue color. is used as blood extenders to hold water in the
bloodstream and helps prevent drop in blood
2. Cellulose – wood, cotton and paper composed
volume and blood pressure. Dextrans growing on the
primarily of cellulose. It is the supporting and
surface of the teeth are important component of
structural substance of plants. It is a polysaccharide
dental plaque.
composed of many glucose units. It is not affected by
any enzyme in the human digestive system and it
cannot be digested. When eaten with other foods, it
gave a bulk to the feces and prevents constipation.

Cellulose – it does not dissolve in water and in most

ordinary solvents. No color with iodine test.

3. Glycogen – is present in the body and is stored in

the liver and muscle, where it serve as a reserve
supply for glucose. Glycogen is of an animal origin.
Glycogen forms a colloidal dispersion with water. It
gives a red color with iodine test