Tag: Sorbitol dehydrogenase

The human body possesses complex metabolic pathways to process sugars, and one such route is the polyol pathway. Within this critical biochemical process, the enzyme sorbitol dehydrogenase is what converts sorbitol to fructose, a process that is particularly significant during periods of elevated blood glucose levels.

According to the National Institutes of Health, the human body does, in fact, metabolize sorbitol by converting it into fructose. This conversion happens as part of a specific metabolic pathway that is particularly relevant for individuals with certain health conditions, including diabetes and fructose intolerance. The process involves specific enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of sorbitol to fructose.

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.