Important carbohydrates required for the body are glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Glucose and fructose are simple sugars. Simple carbohydrates are classified into two types. They are monosaccharides and disaccharides. Monosaccharides are made of one sugar unit and are the most basic form of sugar. Example of monosaccharides – glucose and fructose.
Disaccharides are formed with the dehydration reaction. They are formed with two monosaccharides by removing a water molecule. Example – sucrose.
Glucose
It is a monosaccharide. It is found in all major carbohydrates like starch, table sugar etc. It is also known as blood sugar or grape sugar. It is a six-membered ring. It forms a pyranose ring structure. It is aldohexose. It is the primary and preferred energy source of the body. Starch contains glucose.
Fructose
It is a monosaccharide. It is found in vegetables and fruits. The glycemic index is lower in fructose when compared to glucose. The binding of fructose to cellular protein is seven times faster than glucose. Fructose is also called fruit sugar or D- fructose. Its functional group is the ketone. It is metabolized mainly in the liver. It is not found in starch.
To make you understand how glucose and fructose are different from each other, here are some major differences between glucose and fructose:
| Difference between Glucose and Fructose | |
| GLUCOSE | FRUCTOSE |
| Also known as grape sugar | Also known as fruit sugar |
| Six-membered ring | Five-membered ring |
| The preferred energy source for the body | Not the preferred energy source for brain and muscles |
| Less lipogenic | More lipogenic |
| Less fat producing | More fat producing |
| Relies on hexokinase/ glucokinase for
initiating metabolism |
Relies on fructokinase for initiating metabolism |
| It is an aldohexose | It is a ketohexose |
| Forms a pyranose ring structure | Forms a furan ring structure |
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Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
What is glucose?
Glucose is a monosaccharide sugar found in the blood that functions as the primary energy source of the body. It is formed by the hydrolysis of sucrose.
What is fructose?
Fructose is a monosaccharide sugar found in vegetables and fruits. The glycemic index value of fructose is lower than glucose.
Is honey glucose or fructose?
Honey is made up of 40 percent fructose and 30 percent glucose. Due to the high fructose level, honey is sweeter than sugar. The GI value of honey is around 55.
What is a monosaccharide?
Sugar that can not be further decomposed into simpler sugars by hydrolysis is known as a monosaccharide. Glucose and fructose are examples of monosaccharides.
What is the primary difference between glucose and fructose?
Glucose and fructose are isomers because they have an identical molecular formula but different structural formulas. Glucose consists of an aldehyde group while fructose consists of a ketone functional group.
Also Read
| Classification of carbohydrates | Monosaccharides |
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