How is glucose absorbed compared to fructose?
                                
                                
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                                    3 min read                                
                            
                                Although both glucose and fructose are simple sugars absorbed in the small intestine, their absorption mechanisms are distinctly different, impacting their metabolic fates and overall health effects. Glucose relies on a combination of active and facilitated transport, while fructose absorption is entirely via facilitated diffusion, a slower and quantitatively limited process. This difference explains why consuming glucose with fructose can increase fructose absorption, but also why excessive fructose can cause digestive issues.