Oligosaccharides are primarily formed from how many sugar units?

Oligosaccharides are carbohydrates that consist of a small number of simple sugar units, typically ranging from three to ten. This structure distinguishes oligosaccharides from monosaccharides, which contain only one sugar unit, and disaccharides, which comprise two sugar units. Polysaccharides, on the other hand, are made up of more than ten sugar units.

The three to ten sugar unit range allows oligosaccharides to play various roles in nutrition and health, including serving as prebiotics that promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Their distinct length also influences their solubility, functionality, and behavior in the digestive system.

Choosing any other range, such as one to two units, more than ten units, or two to four units, does not accurately capture the definition of oligosaccharides according to established biochemical classifications. Therefore, the choice that reflects the correct range of sugar units for oligosaccharides is three to ten.