Final answer:
Energy release from complex carbohydrates takes longer than from simple sugars due to the extended breakdown process required for long chains of sugar molecules in complex carbs to be digested into individual glucose units, which then can be used by the body to produce energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy release from a complex carbohydrate takes longer than from a simple sugar because of its structure. Complex carbohydrates, or polysaccharides, are long chains of sugars that have to be broken down into monosaccharides before they can be absorbed by the body. Simple sugars like glucose are monosaccharides and are more quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.
Polysaccharides such as starch, glycogen, cellulose, and chitin can consist of hundreds or even thousands of sugar molecules, and the body needs to break these molecules down into individual glucose units during digestion. This process starts in the mouth with salivary amylase and continues in the intestine, where further enzymes reduce the complex carbs into glucose. This glucose can then enter the bloodstream and be transported to cells where it's used to produce ATP, the energy currency of the cell. Contrastingly, simple sugars can be absorbed more directly, hence they provide energy more quickly.
When considering energy storage, the body often converts excess glucose into glycogen, which is stored in the liver and muscles for later use, or it can convert it to fat. Glycogen is a polysaccharide used specifically for energy storage, and when energy is required, it is broken down into glucose.