Tagatose

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Tagatose

Tagatose is a monosaccharide form of sugar that is approximately 92% as sweet as sucrose, or table sugar. It is naturally occurring and can be found in a variety of fruits and dairy products. Tagatose is often used as a low-calorie sweetener and prebiotic dietary fiber in food and beverage products.

Chemical Structure

Tagatose has the chemical formula C6H12O6, the same as glucose, but its structure differs in the arrangement of the hydroxyl groups. It is a ketohexose, a type of monosaccharide with a ketone functional group and six carbon atoms.

Health Benefits

Tagatose has several potential health benefits. It has a low glycemic index, which means it does not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. This makes it a suitable sweetener for people with diabetes. It also acts as a prebiotic, promoting the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Some studies suggest that tagatose may help reduce body weight and fat mass, although more research is needed in this area.

Production

Tagatose is produced from lactose, a disaccharide found in milk. The lactose is first hydrolyzed to glucose and galactose, and the galactose is then isomerized to tagatose using an enzyme called l-arabinose isomerase.

Uses

Tagatose is used in a variety of food and beverage products, including baked goods, chocolates, and soft drinks. It provides a similar taste and texture to sucrose, but with fewer calories. It is also used in pharmaceutical products due to its prebiotic properties.

Safety

Tagatose is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, like other sugar alcohols, it can cause digestive issues if consumed in large amounts.

See Also

• Sugar substitute
• Low-calorie diet
• Prebiotic (nutrition)