Health and Me

Ishita Srivastava

This Low-Calorie Sugar May Be The Safest Alternative For Diabetic Patients, Scientists Say

<span>Tagatose</span>, a natural <span>sugar</span> with a third of the calories of table sugar, may be the up-and-coming safe alternative to unhealthy added sugars, scientists say. 

Researchers from <span>Tufts University</span>, Massachusetts in partnership with biotechnology companies Manus Bio (US) and Kcat Enzymatic (India), claim that tagatose, found in only small amounts in some dairy products and fruits, is a healthier option than regular sugar and sweeteners. 

The experts also claim it this rare natural sugar also does not cause insulin spikes, making it safe for consumption for both Type 1 and 2 <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/diabetes">diabetes</a></span> patients. Tagatose has also been previously recognized as safe for consumption by the <span>US Food and Drug Administration</span> (<span>FDA</span>) and the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Certain studies have also found tagatose to be 'tooth friendly', as it can limit the growth of harmful microbes in the dental cavity and prevent tooth decay as well as cavities. 

<h2>How Is Better Than Other Artificial Sweeteners?</h2>

Due to being a natural sugar with similar taste and bulk to sugar but fewer calories, minimal blood sugar impact, prebiotic benefits and heat-stable for baking, tagatose is known to better than artificial sweeteners. 

Moreover, it also lacks the bitter aftertaste common with some artificial sweeteners such as saccharin and stevia and tastes 92 percent as sweet and 60 percent less calories than common sugar. 

With low calories and low absorption, tagatose is an attractive bulk sweetener, meaning it can not only can replace sugar for sweetness but can also provide a similar bulk texture in cooking that comes with adding the sugar in some quantity, something that high intensity sweetener substitutes are unable to do due to their composition. 

<h2>Can Diabetes Patients Consume It?</h2>

Yes, tagatose can be eaten by insulin-resistant people as it's only partially absorbed in the small intestine; much of it being fermented by gut bacteria in the colon. Because of this, its impact on blood glucose and insulin is much less than that of conventional sugar. 

Clinical studies show very low increases in plasma glucose or insulin after ingestion of tagatose. However, in the gut, the rare sugar is metabolized in a similar way to the fruit sugar, fructose, meaning those with fructose intolerances may want to steer clear

While tagatose is far more beneficials than other commercially-available sugars, it remains unavailable due to limited production.  "There are established processes to produce tagatose, but they are inefficient and expensive," explains biological engineer Nik Nair from Tufts.

But it can still be found in milk and other dairy products when lactose is broken down by heat or enzymes, such as  yogurt, cheese and kefir. Along with this, fruits such as apples, pineapples and oranges also contain trace levels of tagatose as part of their natural carbohydrate spectrum.

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Tagatose, a natural sugar with a third of the calories of table sugar, may be the up-and-coming safe alternative to unhealthy added sugars, scientists say. Researchers from Tufts University, Massachusetts in partnership with biotechnology companies Manus Bio (US) and Kcat Enzymatic (India), claim that tagatose, found in only small amounts in some dairy products and fruits, is a healthier option than regular sugar and sweeteners. The experts also claim it this rare natural sugar also does not cause insulin spikes, making it safe for consumption for both Type 1 and 2 diabetes patients. Tagatose has also been previously recognized as safe for consumption by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Certain studies have also found tagatose to be 'tooth friendly', as it can limit the growth of harmful microbes in the dental cavity and prevent tooth decay as well as cavities. How Is Better Than Other Artificial Sweeteners?Due to being a natural sugar with similar taste and bulk to sugar but fewer calories, minimal blood sugar impact, prebiotic benefits and heat-stable for baking, tagatose is known to better than artificial sweeteners. Moreover, it also lacks the bitter aftertaste common with some artificial sweeteners such as saccharin and stevia and tastes 92 percent as sweet and 60 percent less calories than common sugar. With low calories and low absorption, tagatose is an attractive bulk sweetener, meaning it can not only can replace sugar for sweetness but can also provide a similar bulk texture in cooking that comes with adding the sugar in some quantity, something that high intensity sweetener substitutes are unable to do due to their composition. Can Diabetes Patients Consume It?Yes, tagatose can be eaten by insulin-resistant people as it's only partially absorbed in the small intestine; much of it being fermented by gut bacteria in the colon. Because of this, its impact on blood glucose and insulin is much less than that of conventional sugar. Clinical studies show very low increases in plasma glucose or insulin after ingestion of tagatose. However, in the gut, the rare sugar is metabolized in a similar way to the fruit sugar, fructose, meaning those with fructose intolerances may want to steer clearWhere Can I Buy It?While tagatose is far more beneficials than other commercially-available sugars, it remains unavailable due to limited production.  "There are established processes to produce tagatose, but they are inefficient and expensive," explains biological engineer Nik Nair from Tufts.But it can still be found in milk and other dairy products when lactose is broken down by heat or enzymes, such as  yogurt, cheese and kefir. Along with this, fruits such as apples, pineapples and oranges also contain trace levels of tagatose as part of their natural carbohydrate spectrum.