Author: Darrell Miller | Total views: 84 Comments: 0
Word Count: 1038 Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2007 11:11 PM

What Is The Glyconutrient Galactose And How Does It Benefit The Body

The glyconutrient Galactose, is a monosaccharide that coexists with glucose in the disaccharide lactose. It is found mainly in dairy products, and comprises around 2% - 8% of milk solids. It is one of the eight saccharides required by the body for correct formation of cells and organs, for immunity and for communication between cells. It is not a nutrient that you want to be short of!

The part played by monosaccharides such as Galactose in the biochemistry of the body was not appreciated until relatively recently, and it is still actively under investigation. The effect of sugars on the immune system of mammals in general, and humans in particular, is not yet fully understood, and will be some time before it is so. However, it has been more or less universally agreed that the immune system is very dependant on eight monosaccharides, called the ‘essential sugars’ for its proper functioning.

Galactose is an essential glyconutrient in the formation of the cell messaging substances, glycoforms. The cells of the body require a means by which they can communicate to other cells just what they are. Without this communication system, cells will be unable to tell whether other cells are friendly or not. Antibodies, for example, will not know what cells to attack and what to leave alone. The immune system would break down, and the body would be open to disease. These glycoforms are situated on the surface of the cell membrane, and require Galactose for their formation.

Galactose is necessary for the formation of glycolipids and glycoproteins, the sugar-based fats and proteins necessary for these glycoforms. Glycoproteins, especially, are important in the formation of the immune system, and typical examples include the antibodies that are used to protect the body against foreign invaders. The saccharide that appears most frequently in cell and organ structure is n-acetyl glucosamine followed by n-acetyl galactosamine. These are not present in the human diet, and have to be synthesized in the body from the monosaccharides Galactose and glucose.

Although people with lactose-intolerance might suffer from Galactose deficiency, it is present in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and some are listed at the end of this article. It is particularly available in fruit pectin’s. It is more common than glucose, and can be transformed into glucose by the liver. It is just as essential a component in the human diet as the other seven essential sugars, and if even one sugar is missing, cell communication breaks down. The type of disease that results depends on the monosaccharide that is missing, although there is a large number of potential conditions that could be affected.

When Galactose is ingested, around 30% is converted to glycogen, although the preferred substance for this is glucose. Glycogen is stored mainly in the liver and is a short-term energy source than can be used on demand. Up to 45% is converted to carbon dioxide and the rest is used to manufacture glycolipids and glycoproteins. Recent studies are indicating that both Galactose and Mannose are essential in the maintenance of a balance of these substances in the body.

The three essential sugars that you get from your diet are glucose, galactose and fucose. Fucose should not be confused with fructose that is a different sugar altogether, and can do more harm than good if taken in excess. Fucose is common in milk and is obtainable from dairy products. From these three, the other five are produced by the body’s biochemistry. One cannot be said to be more important than another, although galactose would be regarded as the ‘daddy’ of the three.

The specific benefits of the glyconutrient Galactose include improved wound healing and decreased inflammation, strengthening of the digestive system, and of course, its critical effect on the immune system. There are many other potential benefits currently under investigation, and a deficiency is thought to promote arthritis, diseases of the respiratory system and even, perhaps, multiple sclerosis. There is also evidence that Galactose is necessary for good long-term memory.

It is in the immune system, however, that Galactose plays a primary role. If an arthritis patient is deficient in galactose it appears to affect the levels of other saccharides, and appears to lead to inflammation. Galactose levels have been found to be reduced in severely ill patients, especially in the cells of the upper airway. This reinforces the other evidence available of its importance in human biochemistry. Not only humans, of course, since all mammalian biochemistry will be involved, and studies have shown a similar relationship between Galactose levels, and those of the other essential sugars, and the condition of the immune system.

Although there should be sufficient Galactose provided in a normal diet, a supplement will do no harm. The monosaccharide is so essential to health and the proper functioning of your body’s biochemistry that a supplement would at least ensure that you were getting enough. There are no apparent side effects for using a supplement and Galactose-intolerance is a very rare condition.

Naturally, Galactose is obtainable from a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. Those particularly rich in the sugar are leeks, broccoli, carrots and Brussels sprouts, while plums are the best fruit source. It is easily absorbed, although, as explained above, only a fraction of it is used in the biosyntheses of glycolipids and glycoproteins.

Although a 50g daily dose has been recommended for a healthy adult, most of it will be eliminated within eight hours, and it is best to take smaller doses more frequently. The dose recommended from your supplier will be based on the strength of the supplement and should be followed, but it is more effective when taken throughout the day rather than in one dose.

The glyconutrient galactose is without doubt essential for the proper functioning of your body, and without it your immune system would lose its effectiveness and there would likely be many more side effects. Although there is normally sufficient in a normal diet, a daily supplement will do no harm and would ensure that you did not suffer from a deficiency.