Professional Resources
DCE JADA Supplement
April 2008
Carbohydrate Issues: Type and Amount
by Madelyn L. Wheeler MS, RD; F. Xavier Pi-Sunyer MD, MPH

Figure 1: Main types of food carbohydrates. Adapted with permission from references 4 and 5. bPlus sign (+) represents complete/nearly 100% digestion and absorption in the small intestine, whereas plus-or-minus sign (+/-) represents partly digested and absorbed, with the range being very large (2% to 90%), and minus sign (-) represents no digestion and absorption in the small intestine.
Type of Carbohydrate
Digestion & Absorption in
Small Intestinea
US Food Labeling Designation
 
Monosaccharides    
Glucose, fructose, galactose
+
Sugars
Sorbitol, mannitol, etc
+ / -
Sugar alcohol
Disaccharides    
Sucrose, maltose, lactose
+
Sugars
Lactitol, maltitol, etc
+ / -
Sugar alcohol
Oligosaccharides    
-Galactosides (eg: raffinose, stachyose)
-
Other carbohydrate
Fructooligosaccharides
-
Other carbohydrate
Maltodextrins
+
Other carbohydrate
Polydextrose
-
Other carbohydrate
Polysaccharides / Starch (-glucans)
    
Amylose
+ / -
Other carbohydrate
Amylopectin
+ / -
Other carbohydrate
Modified food starches
+ / -
Other carbohydrate
Nonstarch (non--glucans) polysaccharides
    
Cell wall & chemically related polymers
(eg, hemicelluloses, hemicelluloses. pectins ß -glucans)
-
Dietary fiber
Storage
(eg, inulins or fructans, guar)
-
Dietary fiber
Plant gums, exudates and seed mucilages (eg, Ispaghula or psyllium)
-
Dietary fiber
Algal polysaccharides
-
Dietary fiber

 

 

This information is provided as a public service by DCE a dietetic practice group of the American Dietetic Association and the information is not intended to replace medical advice. Individuals should contact a registered dietitian to answer food and nutrition-related questions or for nutrition services. All information is the property of DCE DPG/ADA and may not be copied or modified for commercial purposes without the written consent of DCE DPG/ADA.