A
class of compounds occurring widely in nature
and having the general formula type
Cx(H2O)y. (Note that although the name
suggests a hydrate of carbon these com-pounds are in no way hydrates and have no
similarities to classes of hydrates.) Carbohydrates
are generally divided into two
main classes: SUGARS and POLYSACCHARIDES.
Carbohydrates are both stores of energy
and structural elements in living systems;
plants having typically 15%
carbohydrate and animals about 1% carbohydrate.
The body is able to build up
polysaccharides from simple units (anabolism)
or break the larger units down to
more simple units for releasing energy (catabolism).
