| Name | Type | Description |
| Cellulose | Polysaccharide | Undigestible by the body, but provides bulk for moving food through the intestines |
| Deoxyribose | Monosaccharide | Constituent of DNA |
| Fructose | Monosaccharide | The sweetest sugar, found in fruits and used in cellular metabolism of carbohydrates |
| Galactose | Monosaccharide | Found in brain and nerve tissue |
| Glucose(dextrose) | Monosaccharide | Main energy source for the body. Breakdown produces ATP, used by cells. Brain requires a constant supply |
| Glycogen | Polysaccharide | Main form of carbohydrate storage, stored in the liver and muscles until required, when converted to glucose |
| Heparin | Polysaccharide | Prevents excessive blood clotting |
| Lactose | Disaccharide | Milk sugar, aids the absorption of calcium |
| Ribose | Monosaccharide | Constituent of RNA |
| Starch | Polysaccharide | Main food carbohydrate |
| Sucrose (saccharose) | Disaccharide | Cane or beet sugar. Yields fructose and glucose on hydrolysis |
Adapted from Human Anatomy and Physiology by R, Carola et al, with thanks.
