In this chapter, modern analytical procedures used to study carbohydrates in foods and beverages are discussed. The main advanced analytical methodologies applied to determine the different carbohydrate families (monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysaccharides and macromolecules including different glycosilated compounds) are reviewed considering the sample preparation required and the type of technique (separation or spectroscopic) used, including their different couplings, multidimensional-approaches, modern glycomics strategies, etc. The goal of this contribution is, therefore, to provide the reader with a broad and critical view on the different analytical methods nowadays employed to analyze carbohydrates in foods and their foreseeable trends.
Introduction.Carbohydrates are the most abundant and diverse class of organic compounds occurring in nature. Chemically they are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the ratio C n :H 2n :O n . Food carbohydrates include a wide range of macromolecules that can be classified according to their chemical structure into three major groups: low molecular weight monoand disaccharides, intermediate molecular weight oligosaccharides and high molecular weight polysaccharides. They can also be classified as simple or complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates are monosaccharides and disaccharides while complex carbohydrates are made up of many monosaccharides such as starches and fiber (polysaccharides).Carbohydrates are a major source of energy in the human diet with intakes ranging from 40 to 80% of total energy requirements (Muir et al. 2009). Carbohydrates constitute the main source of energy for all body functions, particularly brain functions, and are necessary for the metabolism of other nutrients. Other important effects of carbohydrates on human physiology are satiety and gastric emptying, control of blood glucose, insulin metabolism and serum cholesterol, and influencing colonic microflora and gastrointestinal processes such laxation and fermentation (Muir et al. 2009). Cereals, vegetables, fruits, rice, potatoes, legumes, and flour products are the major sources of carbohydrates. Thus, naturally occurring sugars are consumed as part of a healthy diet.Monosaccharides, sucrose, and polysaccharides are present in all vegetables (Hounsome et al.
2008).Carbohydrates are synthesized by all green plants and in the body are either absorbed immediately or stored in the form of glycogen. They can also be manufactured in the body from some amino acids and the glycerol component of fats. Moreover, sugars can be added to foods during processing or preparation, mainly to enhance food sensorial quality (Murphy et al. 2003).