Which type of carbohydrate consists of many sugar units?

Polysaccharides are a type of carbohydrate that consists of long chains of sugar units, which can number in the hundreds or thousands. These sugar units, usually glucose, are connected by glycosidic bonds, forming complex structures. Common examples of polysaccharides include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

Polysaccharides serve significant roles in biological systems, such as energy storage (in plants and animals) and providing structural support (in plant cell walls). Their larger size and more complex structure compared to monosaccharides (simple sugars), disaccharides (two sugar units), and oligosaccharides (a small number of sugar units) make them distinct in function and nature.

Understanding polysaccharides is essential in nutrition and food science, as they are integral components of many foods and affect digestion, energy release, and overall health.