Oligosaccharides vs. Polysaccharides — What’s the Difference? (2024)

Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on December 28, 2023

Oligosaccharides are short-chain carbohydrates with 2-10 simple sugars, while Polysaccharides are long-chain carbohydrates with more than 10 simple sugars.

Oligosaccharides vs. Polysaccharides — What’s the Difference? (2)

Difference Between Oligosaccharides and Polysaccharides

Table of Contents

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Key Differences

Oligosaccharides are carbohydrates that consist of a small number, typically between two to ten, simple sugars (monosaccharides) linked together. In contrast, Polysaccharides are carbohydrates made up of more than ten monosaccharides and can even extend into the thousands, forming complex structures.

In dietary contexts, Oligosaccharides often serve as prebiotics, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. On the other hand, Polysaccharides are crucial sources of energy; for instance, starch in plants and glycogen in animals.

Due to their smaller size, Oligosaccharides are typically not digested in the upper gastrointestinal tract and can have unique health benefits, including aiding gut health. Meanwhile, Polysaccharides, due to their larger structures, undergo different digestive processes, with some being digestible for energy and others, like cellulose, being indigestible in humans.

From a functional perspective, Oligosaccharides can be found in various foods and are often added to food products for their beneficial health effects. Polysaccharides, in contrast, play structural roles in plants, like cellulose in cell walls, and storage roles, like starch in potatoes.

Oligosaccharides and Polysaccharides represent different ends of the carbohydrate complexity spectrum. While oligosaccharides contain a limited number of sugar units, making them simpler, polysaccharides are much more complex with extensive sugar units, leading to varied functions and properties.

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Comparison Chart

Number of Monosaccharides

2-10

More than 10

Digestibility

Often not digested in the upper GI tract

Varies; some are digestible, others are not

Dietary Role

Serve as prebiotics

Provide energy or structural support

Examples

Fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides

Starch, glycogen, cellulose

Complexity

Simpler, with fewer sugar units

More complex with extensive sugar units

Compare with Definitions

Oligosaccharides

Naturally occurring in various foods like onions and garlic.

Consuming onions provides a source of Oligosaccharides for gut bacteria.

Polysaccharides

Long-chain carbohydrates consisting of more than 10 monosaccharides.

Starch, a common Polysaccharide, is found abundantly in potatoes.

Oligosaccharides

Carbohydrates that often serve as prebiotics in the diet.

Many supplements contain Oligosaccharides to promote beneficial bacteria.

Polysaccharides

Can play structural roles in plants and animals.

Cellulose, a Polysaccharide, provides rigidity to plant cell walls.

Oligosaccharides

Short-chain carbohydrates comprising 2-10 monosaccharides.

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are a type of Oligosaccharides beneficial for gut health.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates that can have varied functional roles.

The Polysaccharide chitin forms the exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans.

Oligosaccharides

Non-digestible sugars that can positively impact gut health.

Foods rich in Oligosaccharides can support a balanced gut microbiome.

Polysaccharides

Essential energy sources in many diets.

Glycogen, a Polysaccharide, stores energy in our muscles and liver.

Oligosaccharides

Added to foods for potential health benefits.

Some infant formulas include Oligosaccharides to mimic human milk composition.

Polysaccharides

Includes both digestible and indigestible types.

While humans digest the Polysaccharide starch for energy, they cannot digest cellulose.

Oligosaccharides

A carbohydrate that consists of a relatively small number of monosaccharides.

Polysaccharides

Any of a class of carbohydrates, such as starch and cellulose, consisting of a number of monosaccharides joined by glycosidic bonds.

Oligosaccharides

Plural of oligosaccharide

Polysaccharides

Plural of polysaccharide

Common Curiosities

Are all Polysaccharides digestible?

No, while some Polysaccharides like starch are digestible, others like cellulose are not.

What's a common dietary source of Polysaccharides?

Starchy foods, like potatoes and grains, are rich in the Polysaccharide starch.

What are Oligosaccharides?

Oligosaccharides are short-chain carbohydrates with 2-10 simple sugars.

Can Oligosaccharides be found in human milk?

Yes, human milk contains specific Oligosaccharides that benefit infant gut health.

Why are Oligosaccharides beneficial for gut health?

Oligosaccharides often serve as prebiotics, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria.

How do Polysaccharides differ from Oligosaccharides?

Polysaccharides are long-chain carbohydrates with more than 10 simple sugars.

How do Polysaccharides function in the human body?

Polysaccharides like glycogen store energy, while others provide dietary fiber.

Are Oligosaccharides naturally occurring?

Yes, they can be found in foods like onions, garlic, and certain beans.

Is chitin a type of Polysaccharide?

Yes, chitin, found in insect exoskeletons, is a Polysaccharide.

What role does the Polysaccharide cellulose play in plants?

Cellulose provides structural support, making up plant cell walls.

What's a primary function of Polysaccharides in plants?

Polysaccharides like starch store energy, while others like cellulose provide structure.

Are Oligosaccharides considered complex carbohydrates?

While they are more complex than monosaccharides, they're simpler than Polysaccharides.

How do Oligosaccharides affect the gut microbiome?

Oligosaccharides promote the growth of beneficial bacteria, positively impacting the gut microbiome.

Why might manufacturers add Oligosaccharides to food products?

Oligosaccharides can be added for their health benefits or to improve texture and taste.

What Polysaccharide is essential for energy storage in animals?

Glycogen, stored in muscles and liver, is the primary energy storage Polysaccharide in animals.

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Tayyaba Rehman

Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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Oligosaccharides vs. Polysaccharides — What’s the Difference? (2024)
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