Fructose Health Benefits

Products

Fructose is available as a pure substance in pharmacies and drugstores. It is also present in countless products, foods and beverages mainly as a component of ordinary sugar (sucrose). Sucrose consists of one molecule each of fructose and glucose covalently bonded to each other and is broken down into its components in the intestine.

Structure and properties

Fructose (C6H12O6, Mr = 180.2 g/mol) is a monosaccharide, a simple sugar belonging to the carbohydrates. It exists as a white, crystalline, odorless powder with a very sweet taste. Fructose is very soluble in water and sweeter than glucose or sucrose. It is a natural substance found in many fruits, root vegetables and in bee honey. Unlike glucose, fructose cannot be used directly by all cells as an energy supplier. It must first be phosphorylated by enzymes (fructokinase), especially in the liver. Fructose-1-phosphate can then be converted into energy substrates: Lactate, glucose and fatty acids. Triglycerides (fat) are formed from the fatty acids.

Areas of application

As a sweetener.

Adverse effects

Excessive consumption of fructose, including in the form of table sugar, is considered a possible risk factor for various diseases. These include obesity, diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, gout, fatty liver, blood lipid disorders (dyslipidemia), hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. However, the link is controversial in the scientific literature. Fructose malabsorption manifests itself in gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhea and occurs in sensitive individuals who consume an intolerable amount of fructose. The fructose cannot be adequately absorbed in the small intestine and passes into the large intestine, where it is fermented by bacteria.