IFPA Trainer Practice Exam

What is the simple sugar that carbohydrates are broken down into called?

1. Glycogen

2. ATP

3. Glucose

4. Sucrose

The correct answer is: Glucose

The simple sugar that carbohydrates are broken down into is called glucose. During the process of digestion, complex carbohydrates (like starches) and disaccharides are hydrolyzed, or broken down, into monosaccharides, with glucose being the primary product. Glucose is vital for energy production in the body, as it is the main source of energy for cells. While glycogen is a storage form of glucose found in the liver and muscles, and sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose, neither represent the direct breakdown product of carbohydrates. ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, is the energy currency of the cell and is produced from glucose during cellular respiration, but is not a simple sugar itself. Thus, glucose stands out as the correct answer, representing the fundamental building block derived from carbohydrates.