HNE25306
Problem set 2: Carbs and Carbs & Health
Instructor: Sander Kersten
Carbs
1. At least half of the energy in our food is derived from _______________, principally
from ___________, but also from simple sugars. Carbohydrates are classified as ___
________ carbohydrates or simple carbohydrates (the ____ saccharides and
______saccharides). Each of the three disaccharides ____________, ________ and
_________ contains a molecule of glucose paired with either __________, ___________
or another glucose.
2. Carbohydrates are stored in the body as glycogen. What purpose does stored glycogen
serve in skeletal muscle and liver, respectively?
3. Explain how glucose levels in blood plasma are maintained during a period of 24 hours
without food. Why does our body strive to maintain a stable blood sugar level?
4. Cows are able to extract the energy present in cellulose, whereas humans are not (that
is why cows can subsist on grass and humans cannot). Why is this? What happens to
cellulose entering the human gastro-intestinal tract?
5. People that suffer from von Gierke’s disease lack an enzyme involved in the
breakdown of glycogen in liver. What do you think are the symptoms of this disease?
6. People that suffer from McArdle disease lack an enzyme involved in the breakdown of
glycogen in muscle. What do you think are the symptoms of this disease?
7. Explain the concept of glycemic index.
8. This is a former exam question.
a) Explain in what form and where carbohydrates are stored in the body.
b) What specific purposes do these carbohydrate stores have?
Levels of glucose in blood are carefully maintained during different physiological states
via the action of specific hormones.
c) Name these hormones, describe when they are released and from what organ, and
explain how they regulate blood glucose levels.
The glycemic index ranks foods according to their effect on blood glucose levels.
d) What is the basis for differences in glycemic index between foods.
Carbs and Health
1. What are some of the criticisms that are raised against soft drinks?
, 2. Describe the main difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
3. Explain the symptoms of lactose intolerance.
4. (This is a former exam question!)
a. What is dietary fiber ?
b. How do soluble (viscous) and insoluble (non-viscous) fibers differ in their effects on
the body ?
c. Give 2 examples each of soluble and insoluble fibers.
d. Give a rough estimate of the average dietary fiber intake in Western Europe.
e. Name at least four different foods that are rich in dietary fiber (the answer corn bread,
wheat bread, rye bread and mixed grain bread would not qualify !)
f. Give an example of use of fiber as functional food.
5.
a. The three chemical elements in carbohydrates are: ___ , _____ , and _____
b. The condition that describes a lack of ability to digest lactose is called ___________
c. Glucose can be stored in the body in the form of _____________ in ____________
and ___________
d. The auto-immune disorder associated with destruction of the pancreatic beta cells is
called ____________
e. The hormone secreted from pancreatic alpha-cells that increases blood glucose levels
is called ____________
f. Carbohydrate-rich foods that are slowly absorbed into the blood and cause a shallow
rise in plasma glucose levels have a low _____________
g. _ _________ fibers may lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
h. Foods that contain lots of sugar (and thus energy) and very few, if any, other nutrients
are called ____________ foods.
i. Another term for non-nutritive sweeteners is ___________ or _______________
j. An example of a nutritive sweetener is ____________
6. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “A high sugar consumption
causes type 2 diabetes.”. Please justify your answer.
7. (This is a former exam question!)
Please find below a (shortened) abstract of an article linking glycemic load to risk for
colorectal cancer (Authors Higginbotham et al.)
Although diet is believed to influence colorectal cancer risk, the long-term effects of a
diet with a high glycemic load are unclear. The growing recognition that colorectal
cancer may be promoted by hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance suggests that a diet
Problem set 2: Carbs and Carbs & Health
Instructor: Sander Kersten
Carbs
1. At least half of the energy in our food is derived from _______________, principally
from ___________, but also from simple sugars. Carbohydrates are classified as ___
________ carbohydrates or simple carbohydrates (the ____ saccharides and
______saccharides). Each of the three disaccharides ____________, ________ and
_________ contains a molecule of glucose paired with either __________, ___________
or another glucose.
2. Carbohydrates are stored in the body as glycogen. What purpose does stored glycogen
serve in skeletal muscle and liver, respectively?
3. Explain how glucose levels in blood plasma are maintained during a period of 24 hours
without food. Why does our body strive to maintain a stable blood sugar level?
4. Cows are able to extract the energy present in cellulose, whereas humans are not (that
is why cows can subsist on grass and humans cannot). Why is this? What happens to
cellulose entering the human gastro-intestinal tract?
5. People that suffer from von Gierke’s disease lack an enzyme involved in the
breakdown of glycogen in liver. What do you think are the symptoms of this disease?
6. People that suffer from McArdle disease lack an enzyme involved in the breakdown of
glycogen in muscle. What do you think are the symptoms of this disease?
7. Explain the concept of glycemic index.
8. This is a former exam question.
a) Explain in what form and where carbohydrates are stored in the body.
b) What specific purposes do these carbohydrate stores have?
Levels of glucose in blood are carefully maintained during different physiological states
via the action of specific hormones.
c) Name these hormones, describe when they are released and from what organ, and
explain how they regulate blood glucose levels.
The glycemic index ranks foods according to their effect on blood glucose levels.
d) What is the basis for differences in glycemic index between foods.
Carbs and Health
1. What are some of the criticisms that are raised against soft drinks?
, 2. Describe the main difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
3. Explain the symptoms of lactose intolerance.
4. (This is a former exam question!)
a. What is dietary fiber ?
b. How do soluble (viscous) and insoluble (non-viscous) fibers differ in their effects on
the body ?
c. Give 2 examples each of soluble and insoluble fibers.
d. Give a rough estimate of the average dietary fiber intake in Western Europe.
e. Name at least four different foods that are rich in dietary fiber (the answer corn bread,
wheat bread, rye bread and mixed grain bread would not qualify !)
f. Give an example of use of fiber as functional food.
5.
a. The three chemical elements in carbohydrates are: ___ , _____ , and _____
b. The condition that describes a lack of ability to digest lactose is called ___________
c. Glucose can be stored in the body in the form of _____________ in ____________
and ___________
d. The auto-immune disorder associated with destruction of the pancreatic beta cells is
called ____________
e. The hormone secreted from pancreatic alpha-cells that increases blood glucose levels
is called ____________
f. Carbohydrate-rich foods that are slowly absorbed into the blood and cause a shallow
rise in plasma glucose levels have a low _____________
g. _ _________ fibers may lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
h. Foods that contain lots of sugar (and thus energy) and very few, if any, other nutrients
are called ____________ foods.
i. Another term for non-nutritive sweeteners is ___________ or _______________
j. An example of a nutritive sweetener is ____________
6. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: “A high sugar consumption
causes type 2 diabetes.”. Please justify your answer.
7. (This is a former exam question!)
Please find below a (shortened) abstract of an article linking glycemic load to risk for
colorectal cancer (Authors Higginbotham et al.)
Although diet is believed to influence colorectal cancer risk, the long-term effects of a
diet with a high glycemic load are unclear. The growing recognition that colorectal
cancer may be promoted by hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance suggests that a diet
