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.

About The Author: More information on galactose along with a
complete list of foods high in galactose can be found at
http://vitanetonline.com/