Mother-Baby University

TERMINOLOGY

Carbohydrates (CHO)

Classifications

Grouped according to the number of carbon atoms they contain

Monosaccharides or simple sugars contain 5-6 carbon atoms

Glucose is the basic monosaccharide

Monosaccharides serve as the building block for both di- and polysaccharides

Disaccharides are 2 monosaccharides lined together, giving them 10-12 carbon atoms

These sugars are present in the diet as maltose, sucrose (glucose and fructose) and lactose (milk sugar)

Disaccharides eventually are split and converted into glucose (a monosaccharide) by the action of enzymes

Polysaccharides are a series of Monosaccharides or disaccharides linked together

Two of the most important polysaccharides are starch and glycogen

CHO are:

One of the 3 classes of nutrients
Basic source of energy
Stored in the body as glycogen
Stored in all tissues of the body but primarily in the liver and muscles

Euglycemia

Normal blood glucose levels

No uniformly accepted values to define normal neonatal euglycemia

Glucose

The most important CHO in body metabolism

Formed during digestion

Absorbed from the intestines into the blood of the
portal vein

As it passes through the liver, excess glucose is converted into glycogen

Insulin produced by the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas is responsible to maintain a fairly constant level of glucose in the body

Failure of the pancreas to produce adequate insulin results in hyperglycemia

Overproduction of insulin or an injection of insulin decreases the blood sugar level resulting in hypoglycemia

Nervous system tissue is especially dependent upon glucose as its source of energy

The brain is able to oxidize glucose directly

Circulating glucose provides fuel for the body's tissues

Glucagon

A polypeptide hormone secreted by the panaceas that increases the concentration of glucose in the blood

The blood glucose concentration is by far the most
potent factor controlling glucagon secretion

A decrease in the blood glucose concentration from its normal fasting level down to hypoglycemic levels can increase glucagon secretion as well as its plasma concentration

Thus in hypoglycemia glucagon is secreted in large amounts

It mobilizes glucose from the liver helping to correct the hypoglycemia

On the other hand, an increase in the blood glucose concentration to hyperglycemic levels can decrease glucagon secretion as well as its plasma concentration

Glycogen

A polysaccharide also referred to as animal starch

The form that CHO are stored in the body for later use such as muscular activity or generation of heat

Stored in the liver, heart and skeletal muscles until
needed by the body

Must be converted to glucose when needed

When glycogen reserves are used up, blood sugar levels fall and hypoglycemia develops

Glycogenesis

The formation of glycogen from CHO sources

Glyconeogenesis

The formation of glycogen from non-glucose substrates such as amino acids (proteins) or fatty acids

This occurs in the liver during times of low or limited carbohydrate intake or starvation

Glycogenolysis

The conversion of glycogen into glucose by the body

Blood glucose levels are maintained by glycogenolysis

Glycolysis

The conversion and utilization of glucose

HYPOglycemia

Abnormally low blood (plasma) sugar

HYPERglycemia

Increased or elevated blood (plasma) sugar

Abnormal serum glucose levels, be they high or low, can result in neurologic impairment or have life threatening implications for the newborn

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