ISSA Nutritionist Practice Exam

Which type of carbohydrates can be rapidly fermented by gut bacteria?

1. Dietary fiber

2. Complex carbohydrates

3. Simple sugars

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: Simple sugars

Simple sugars are rapidly fermented by gut bacteria due to their structure and digestibility. They consist of short chains of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which make them easily accessible for fermentation processes. This quick fermentation leads to the production of gases and short-chain fatty acids, which are beneficial for gut health and provide energy for colon cells. Dietary fiber and complex carbohydrates, while they can be fermented by gut bacteria, typically undergo fermentation at a slower rate. Fibers often require specific bacterial strains for fermentation, and complex carbohydrates take longer to break down because of their larger and more intricate structures. Consequently, simple sugars are the type of carbohydrate that is most rapidly fermented in the gut.