Table of Contents
What is Galactose Meaning?
Galactose – Structure: Galactose is a type of sugar that is found in milk and other dairy products. It is also present in some fruits and vegetables. Galactose is a monosaccharide, meaning that it is made up of one sugar molecule. It is a white, crystalline powder that is soluble in water.
Galactose Structure
Galactose a simple sugar molecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. The carbon atoms linked together in a chain, and the hydrogen and oxygen atoms are attached to the carbon atoms. The sugar molecule is asymmetric, meaning that it has a different shape on each side. The asymmetric carbon atom is located at the top of the molecule. The sugar molecule is also chiral, meaning that it has a left- and right-handed form. The left-handed form called D-galactose, and the right-handed form called L-galactose.
Properties of Galactose
Galactose is a monosaccharide with the formula C6H12O6. It is a white, crystalline solid that is slightly soluble in water. It is the simplest form of sugar that found in milk and other dairy products. Galactose is a reducing sugar, meaning that it can reduce a compound such as Fehling’s solution. It is also a chiral sugar, meaning that it has a molecule that is not superimposable on its mirror image.
Conversion of Galactose and Glucose to Lactose
When lactose hydrolyzed by the enzyme lactase, it breaks down into two simpler forms of sugar: glucose and galactose. Glucose and galactose can then absorbed into the bloodstream.
Metabolism of Galactose
After ingestion, galactose converted to glucose by the enzyme galactose-1-phosphate uridyltransferase. Glucose then transported across the intestinal wall and into the bloodstream. The liver converts glucose to glycogen, a storage form of glucose, and the kidneys convert glycogen to glucose and excrete it in the urine. Glucose is the main source of energy for the body’s cells.
Sources of Galactose
galactose found in dairy products, such as milk and cheese, and in some fruits, such as apples, pears, and grapes.
Effects of Galactose on the Aging Process
As people age, their cells gradually lose the ability to produce energy from glucose, a process called glycolysis. One cause of this decline is a decrease in the number of functioning mitochondria, the organelles within cells that produce energy. Galactose can help preserve mitochondrial function, and thus help protect cells against the effects of aging. In a study of mice, those that were given galactose supplements had more mitochondrial DNA and better mitochondrial function than those that not. Additionally, the mice that received galactose supplements were less likely to experience age-related declines in physical activity, grip strength, and cognitive function.
Diagnostic Test for Galactose
A diagnostic test for galactosemia is a blood test that measures the level of galactose in the blood.
Metabolism of Galactose
Galactose a monosaccharide that derived from lactose. Lactose a disaccharide composed of one molecule of glucose and one molecule of galactose. Glucose and galactose are both monosaccharides.
The metabolism of galactose begins with the digestion of lactose. Lactose is hydrolyzed into its component monosaccharides, glucose and galactose, by the enzyme lactase. Glucose and galactose then transported across the intestinal epithelium into the bloodstream.
In the bloodstream, glucose and galactose transported to the liver. The liver metabolizes galactose into glucose and galactitol. Glucose then released into the bloodstream and transported to the body’s cells. Galactitol excreted in the urine.
Some Important Points about Galactose
- Galactosemia is a rare genetic disorder that affects the way the body breaks down a sugar called galactose.
- People with galactosemia cannot break down galactose properly, which can lead to a build-up of the sugar in the blood and other body tissues.
- Galactosemia can cause a wide range of symptoms, including liver disease, kidney disease, intellectual disability, and seizures.
- Galactosemia treated by restricting the amount of galactose in the diet.
For more visit Galactose – Structure, Properties, Conversion, Metabolism and Sources
