BY :

SIMRAN DHANOA 20120130 & KASHVEEN KAUR DHANOA (20120131)

 INTRODUCTION
üHuman diet consists of carbohydrates,
lipids, and proteins as major nutrients
üCarbohydrates are broken down into
smaller molecules by digestion and
absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract
üThis presentation will cover the
digestion and absorption of
carbohydrates in the human body
 TYPES OF
CARBOHYDRATES
üCarbohydrates can be classified as simple or complex

üSimple carbohydrates include monosaccharides

(glucose, fructose, and galactose) and disaccharides
(sucrose, lactose, and maltose)

üComplex carbohydrates include polysaccharides

(starch and glycogen)
 üDigestion of carbohydrates begins in the mouth with
DIGESTION OF the action of salivary amylase
CARBOHYDRATES
üSalivary amylase breaks down starch into smaller
IN THE MOUTH
polysaccharides and disaccharides
 DIGESTION OF
CARBOHYDRATES
IN THE STOMACH
üDigestion of carbohydrates
does not occur in the stomach
due to the acidic environment

üSalivary amylase is inactivated

by the low pH
 üMost carbohydrate digestion occurs in the
small intestine
DIGESTION OF
üPancreatic amylase is released into the small
CARBOHYDRATES intestine and breaks down polysaccharides
IN THE SMALL into smaller disaccharides
üDisaccharidases (lactase, sucrase, and
INTESTINE maltase) produced by the small intestine
break down disaccharides into
monosaccharides
The rest of the work of
carbohydrate digestion is
done by enzymes
produced by the
enterocytes, the cells
lining the small intestine.
 ABSORPTION OF
CARBOHYDRATES IN
THE SMALL INTESTINE

üMonosaccharides (glucose,
fructose, and galactose) are
absorbed across the intestinal
epithelium and into the
bloodstream
üGlucose and galactose are
absorbed through active
transport, while fructose is
absorbed through facilitated
diffusion
 TRANSPORT OF
CARBOHYDRATES
IN THE
BLOODSTREAM
üGlucose and galactose are
transported to the liver via
the hepatic portal vein

üFructose is transported to
the liver via the bloodstream
 STORAGE OF CARBOHYDRATES

• Excess glucose is stored in the

liver and muscles as glycogen

• Glycogen can be broken down

into glucose as needed for energy
 CONCLUSION
• Carbohydrates are broken down into smaller
molecules by digestion and absorbed in the
small intestine

• Monosaccharides are transported to the liver

and used for energy or stored as glycogen

• Understanding the digestion and absorption of

carbohydrates is important for maintaining a
healthy diet and preventing digestive disorders.