Which nutrient category includes lactose and sucrose?

Which nutrient category includes lactose and sucrose?

• A. Disaccharides
• B. Monosaccharides
• C. Polysaccharides
• D. Carbohydrates

Answer: (A)

Two-part sugar molecules known as disaccharides form when two monosaccharide units join. Lactose is glucose linked with galactose, and sucrose is glucose linked with fructose. These are specific types of carbohydrates, but the question asks for the nutrient category that includes them, which is disaccharides. Understanding this helps: monosaccharides are single sugars, so they’re the building blocks, not the disaccharides themselves; polysaccharides are long chains of sugar units; and carbohydrates is the broad umbrella. In digestion, enzymes like lactase and sucrase break lactose and sucrose into their monosaccharide components so they can be absorbed.

Two-part sugar molecules known as disaccharides form when two monosaccharide units join. Lactose is glucose linked with galactose, and sucrose is glucose linked with fructose. These are specific types of carbohydrates, but the question asks for the nutrient category that includes them, which is disaccharides. Understanding this helps: monosaccharides are single sugars, so they’re the building blocks, not the disaccharides themselves; polysaccharides are long chains of sugar units; and carbohydrates is the broad umbrella. In digestion, enzymes like lactase and sucrase break lactose and sucrose into their monosaccharide components so they can be absorbed.