Sugars

Sugars are a type of carbohydrate found naturally in most foods. The two main types of sugars are monosaccharides and disaccharides. Monosaccharides include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Disaccharides include sucrose, lactose, and maltose.

Types of Sugars

Monosaccharides

Monosaccharides are the simplest form of sugar and are usually colorless, water-soluble, and crystalline solids. Some monosaccharides have a sweet taste. Examples of monosaccharides include glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Glucose

Glucose is a simple sugar with the molecular formula C6H12O6. It is a monosaccharide that is naturally occurring and is found in fruits and other parts of plants in its free state.

Fructose

Fructose, or fruit sugar, is a simple ketonic monosaccharide found in many plants, where it is often bonded to glucose to form the disaccharide sucrose.

Galactose

Galactose is a monosaccharide sugar that is less sweet than glucose and fructose. It is a component of the disaccharide lactose.

Disaccharides

Disaccharides are sugars or carbohydrates made by linking two monosaccharides. This includes sucrose, lactose, and maltose.

Sucrose

Sucrose is a common sugar and is the chemical name for table sugar. Sucrose is a disaccharide, a molecule composed of two monosaccharides: glucose and fructose.

Lactose

Lactose is a disaccharide sugar derived from galactose and glucose that is found in milk.

Maltose

Maltose, or malt sugar, is a disaccharide formed from two units of glucose joined with an α(1→4) bond.

Health Effects

Excessive consumption of sugars has been associated with multiple health issues including obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. It is recommended to limit the intake of added sugars in your diet.

See Also

• Carbohydrate
• Glucose
• Fructose
• Galactose
• Sucrose
• Lactose
• Maltose

Sugars Resources
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