Tag: Fructose conversion

Did you know that glucose and fructose have the same chemical formula, $C_6H_{12}O_6$? The chemical reaction that converts glucose to fructose is known as isomerization, which rearranges the atoms of the glucose molecule to form its sweeter counterpart through a shift of its carbonyl group.

In normal human physiology, less than 3% of glucose is processed through the polyol pathway. This route, which explains how is sorbitol metabolized, is typically a minor side road for glucose but becomes significantly more active and problematic under conditions of high blood sugar, such as in diabetes.