Category: Polysaccharides

Approximately 70–80% of starch is composed of amylopectin, a highly branched polysaccharide. Starch is definitively an alpha-bond carbohydrate, a crucial detail that dictates its unique structure and biological role as an energy storage molecule in plants.

While some carbohydrates like starch are a major energy source, a significant portion of polysaccharides found in plants cannot be digested by the human body. Understanding which polysaccharides can the human body not digest is key to appreciating the vital role of dietary fiber in promoting gut health and preventing chronic disease.

Approximately 95% of indigestible carbohydrates are fermented by gut microbes, and the most prominent example is the polysaccharide cellulose. While other complex carbohydrates like starch are easily broken down for energy, cellulose and other dietary fibers pass through the small intestine largely intact, offering significant health benefits for the colon.