Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are vital organic compounds in living forms and are primarily used for short-term energy storage.
They are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, hence the name “carbohydrates” or “carbs.”
They are also known as saccharides.

Carbohydrates can be classified into four categories: monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides.
Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of a single sugar unit examples include glucose, fructose, and galactose.
Disaccharides are formed when two monosaccharides form a glycosidic bond through the process of dehydration synthesis. Examples are sucrose, lactose, and maltose.
Oligosaccharides are a short chain of monosaccharide units linked by glycosidic bonds.
Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates that are made up of more than two sugar units. Examples are starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

The primary function of carbohydrates is to provide energy. During metabolism, the carbohydrate glucose is broken down into water and carbon dioxide, releasing energy.
Carbohydrates serve as the structural framework of RNA and DNA, where ribose and deoxyribose sugars form their backbones.
Fibre, a type of carbohydrate that cannot be easily digested, helps in maintaining digestive health.
Polysaccharides like cellulose give strength and rigidity to plant cells, while chitin provides structural support to the exoskeleton of arthropods and cell walls of fungi.

In biochemistry, the study of carbohydrates includes understanding how they’re synthesized and broken down, and how different carbohydrate molecules interact.
A significant biochemical process involving carbohydrates is glycolysis, where glucose is broken down to form ATP, the principal energy carrier in living organisms.
All complex carbohydrates must be broken down into monosaccharides before they can be absorbed by the body.