Effects of carbohydrates on aging
Carbohydrates are organic compounds comprised of carbon, hydrogen,
and oxygen. Carbohydrates act as signaling molecules, energy sources,
and structural components. The importance of carbohydrates for human
health is exemplified by the tight association between chronic metabolic
diseases and carbohydrate-rich diets. Such diets have high glycemic
indices, which result in rapid increases in blood glucose levels (Jenkins
et al., 1981). In addition, recent studies indicate that several dietary
carbohydrates directly influence lifespan in various organisms through
diverse signaling pathways (Fig. 1).