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What Role Do Carbohydrates Play in Metabolism?

Carbohydrates play an important role in human metabolism as the primary source of energy. They are broken down into simple sugars like glucose through digestion and various enzymes. This glucose is then absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to cells to be used for energy or stored. The breakdown of glucose occurs through glycolysis which converts it into energy. While simple sugars are metabolized quickly, more complex starches take longer to break down and provide sustained energy release over a longer period.

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94 views3 pages

What Role Do Carbohydrates Play in Metabolism?

Carbohydrates play an important role in human metabolism as the primary source of energy. They are broken down into simple sugars like glucose through digestion and various enzymes. This glucose is then absorbed into the bloodstream and transported to cells to be used for energy or stored. The breakdown of glucose occurs through glycolysis which converts it into energy. While simple sugars are metabolized quickly, more complex starches take longer to break down and provide sustained energy release over a longer period.

Uploaded by

Alexa
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What role do carbohydrates play in metabolism?

Carbohydrates are used in human metabolism as the primary source of energy in


your body, but restricting your intake of carbohydrates may help with short-term
weight loss. Although they are found in different forms, carbs are broken down
into simple units through digestion to be used in metabolism. Different hormones
are involved to keep glucose available for all cells to use as energy, regardless if
one has recently eaten or has been fasting.

When you eat a carbohydrate-containing food, such as sugar or bread, enzymes


in your mouth begin to break down the chains connecting carbohydrate
together. Once carbohydrate enters your stomach, acid prevents further
digestion. Carbohydrate then travels to your small intestine, where more enzymes
are released and continue the digestive process. Long, fingerlike projections
known as microvilli on intestinal cells contain digestive enzymes and break down
carbohydrate into monosaccharides of glucose, fructose or galactose. These
simple sugars are absorbed and enter the circulatory system, where they travel to
different cells. All monosaccharides are converted to glucose, to be stored or
used as energy.

Glycolysis- break down of glucose


Glucose is the body’s most readily available source of energy. After digestive
processes break polysaccharides down into monosaccharides, including
glucose, the monosaccharides are transported across the wall of the small
intestine and into the circulatory system, which transports them to the liver
In glycolysis, glucose—a six-carbon sugar—undergoes a series of chemical
transformations. In the end, it gets converted into two molecules of pyruvate, a
three-carbon organic molecule. In these reactions, ATP is made, and NAD+ is
converted to NADH.
Glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream
After digestion, when the starches and simple sugars are broken back down into
glucose molecules, and after glycolysis that releases catabolic energy… the
glucose is transported to the liver. Some of it is stored in the liver. Some is sent to
muscles and organs that require energy. If there is too much, it can be converted
to and stored as fat.

How fast are carbohydrates metabolized?


To digest and metabolize a simple sugar such as glucose may take less than 30
minutes. Because juice would be quickly digested, it may be one of the quickest
to process. The release of energy would be quick…but brief!
The more complex structure of starches may require as much as 2-4 hours to digest
and metabolize. The release of energy would be slower, but last over a longer
period of time.

Glycogenolysis
Glycogenolysis is the biochemical breakdown of glycogen to glucose. It takes
place in the cells of muscle and liver tissues in response to hormonal and neural
signals. In particular, glycogenolysis plays an important role in the adrenaline-
induced fight-or-flight response and the regulation of glucose levels in the blood.

Glycogenesis
Glycogenesis, the formation of glycogen from glucose, occurs in liver and muscle
cells when glucose and ATP are present in relatively high amounts. In the synthesis
of glycogen, one ATP is required for every glucose unit incorporated into the
polymeric branched structure of glycogen. The glucose (in the form of glucose-6-
phosphate) is synthesized directly from glucose or as the end product of
gluconeogenesis.

Recommended daily allowance


No RDA for carbohydrates has been set, but a minimum of 50-100 grams should
be consumed daily for normal brain function. Carbohydrates should make up
55% of your daily total caloric intake. Sugars and starches that occur naturally in
foods is preferred over those that are ‘added’ to foods, such as refined sugars.
Foods from the fruits, vegetables, and breads & cereals group on the food
pyramid provide carbohydrates.

Low-carb diets
Low-carb diets limit carbohydrates in order to lose weight (bread, grains, rice,
starchy vegetables and fruit), and emphasize sources of protein and fat instead.
Many types of low-carb diets exist, each with varying restrictions on the types and
amounts of carbohydrates. Examples of low-carb diets include the Atkins diet,
Zone diet, South Beach diet, Lifeplan, and Protein Power.

Assessment test

• It is the primary source of energy in our body. CARBOHYDRATES

• The breakdown of glucose. GLYCOLYSIS

• Carbs are broken down into simple units through DIGESTION to be used in
metabolism.

• Once carbohydrate enters your STOMACH, acid prevents further digestion.

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