Encyclopedia of Children's Health | Carbohydrate Intolerance

Definition

Carbohydrate intolerance is the inability of the small intestine to completely process the nutrient carbohydrate (a classification that includes sugars and starches) into a source of energy for the body. This is usually due to deficiency of an enzyme needed for digestion. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest the sugar found in milk.

Description

Carbohydrates are the primary source of energy and, along with fats and proteins, one of the three major nutrients in the human diet. Carbohydrates are classified according to their structure, based on the number of basic sugar, or saccharide, units they contain.

A monosaccharide, called a simple sugar, is the simplest carbohydrate. Simple...