NANP Board Practice Exam

The term that refers to carbohydrates containing between 2 and 10 monosaccharides is oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharides are short chains of sugar units that can be found in various foods, such as certain vegetables and legumes. They play a role in nutrition as they can have prebiotic effects, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.

In contrast, complex carbohydrates generally refer to larger carbohydrate molecules, which consist of many sugar units (more than 10), while simple carbohydrates usually describe monosaccharides or disaccharides, which are smaller units. Fructooligosaccharides, a specific type of oligosaccharide, consist primarily of fructose molecules and fall within the broader category of oligosaccharides but don't represent the entire range of carbohydrates with 2 to 10 sugar units. Understanding the classification of carbohydrates is essential for comprehending their functions and impacts on health.