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.

Learning Objective

Evaluate the sources and uses of carbohydrates in the body

Key Points

Carbohydrates include such items as fruits, grains, beans, and potatoes, along with sugars and sugared foods.
While fat is a better source of energy, the brain cannot burn fat and instead requires glucose.
Polysaccharides (complex carbs) are difficult for humans to breakdown, but are useful as fiber to enhance the digestive process.
Government agencies recommend a dietary intake of 45-65% or 55-75% of carbohydrates to meet daily energy needs.
Of daily carbohydrate intake, only 10% should be simple carbs or sugars.

Terms

saccharide
The unit structure of carbohydrates, of general formula CnH2nOn. Either the simple sugars or polymers such as starch and cellulose. The saccharides exist in either a ring or short chain conformation, and typically contain five or six carbon atoms.
carbohydrate
A sugar, starch, or cellulose that is a food source of energy for an animal or plant; a saccharide.
glucose
A simple monosaccharide (sugar) with a molecular formula of C6H12O6; it is a principle source of energy for cellular metabolism.

Example

Daily food intake that includes 8-10 fruit and vegetable servings (not starchy potatoes or grains, such as corn and rice) will not only provide plenty of energy but will also keep glucose levels in balance.

Full Text

Foods high in carbohydrate include fruits, sweets, soft drinks, breads, pastas, beans, potatoes, bran, rice, and cereals. Carbohydrates are a common source of energy in living organisms , however, a carbohydrate is not an essential nutrient in humans.

Carbohydrates are a class of macromolecule

Grain products are rich sources of carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are not necessary building blocks of other molecules, and the body can obtain all its energy from protein and fats. The brain and neurons generally cannot burn fat for energy but use solely glucose or ketones. Humans can synthesize some glucose (in a set of processes known as "gluconeogenesis") from specific amino acids or from the glycerol backbone in triglycerides and, in some cases, from fatty acids. Carbohydrate and protein contain 4 kilocalories per gram, while fats contain 9 kilocalories per gram. In the case of protein, this is somewhat misleading as only some amino acids are able to undergo conversion into useful energy forms.

Organisms typically cannot metabolize all types of carbohydrate to yield energy. Glucose is a nearly universal and accessible source of calories . Many organisms also have the ability to metabolize other monosaccharides and disaccharides, though glucose is preferred. Polysaccharides are also common sources of energy. Even though these complex carbohydrates are not very digestible, they may comprise important dietary elements for humans. Called "dietary fiber," these carbohydrates enhance digestion, among other benefits.

Glucose Molecule

Image of a glucose molecule containing a fixed ratio of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

Based on the effects on risk of heart disease and obesity, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that American and Canadian adults get between 45–65% of dietary energy from carbohydrates. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) jointly recommend that national dietary guidelines set a goal of 55–75% of total energy from carbohydrates, but only 10% directly from sugars (their term for simple carbohydrates).

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