Psicose

D-Psicose (D-ribo-2-hexulose, C

Carbon

Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...

₆H

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, nonmetallic, tasteless, highly flammable diatomic gas with the molecular formula H₂...

₁₂O

Oxygen

Oxygen Oxygen Oxygen (acid, literally "sharp", from the taste of acids) and -γενής (-genēs) (producer, literally begetter) is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O...

₆) is an ultralow-energy monosaccharide

Monosaccharide

Monosaccharides are the most basic unit of carbohydrates. They are the simplest form of sugar and are usually colorless, water-soluble, crystalline solids. Some monosaccharides have a sweet taste. Examples of monosaccharides include glucose , fructose , galactose, xylose and ribose...

 sugar

Sugar

Sugar is a class of edible crystalline substances, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose. Human taste buds interpret its flavor as sweet. Sugar as a basic food carbohydrate primarily comes from sugar cane and from sugar beet, but also appears in fruit, honey, sorghum, sugar maple , and in many...

. It is a C-3 epimer

Epimer

In chemistry, epimers are diastereomers that differ in configuration of only one stereogenic center. Diastereomers are a class of stereoisomers that are non-superposable, non-mirror images of one another, unlike enantiomers which are non-superposable mirror images of one another.center|350pxFor...

 of D-fructose

Fructose

Fructose is a simple monosaccharide found in many foods. It is a white solid that dissolves readily in water. Honey, tree fruits, berries, melons, and some root vegetables, contain significant amounts of the fructose derivative sucrose...

, and is present in small quantities in agricultural products and commercially-prepared carbohydrate complexes. It is known as a "rare sugar" because it is rarely found in nature, and even when found, only in small amounts. D-Psicose yields only 0.3% the metabolic energy of the equivalent amount of sucrose

Sucrose

Sucrose, commonly called table sugar, is a moosaccharide of glucose and fructose with the molecular formula C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁. This white, odorless, crystalline powder has a pleasing, sweet taste. It is best known for its role in human nutrition...

.

D-Psicose (D-ribo-2-hexulose, C

Carbon

Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...

₆H

Hydrogen

Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, nonmetallic, tasteless, highly flammable diatomic gas with the molecular formula H₂...

₁₂O

Oxygen

Oxygen Oxygen Oxygen (acid, literally "sharp", from the taste of acids) and -γενής (-genēs) (producer, literally begetter) is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O...

₆) is an ultralow-energy monosaccharide

Monosaccharide

Monosaccharides are the most basic unit of carbohydrates. They are the simplest form of sugar and are usually colorless, water-soluble, crystalline solids. Some monosaccharides have a sweet taste. Examples of monosaccharides include glucose , fructose , galactose, xylose and ribose...

 sugar

Sugar

Sugar is a class of edible crystalline substances, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose. Human taste buds interpret its flavor as sweet. Sugar as a basic food carbohydrate primarily comes from sugar cane and from sugar beet, but also appears in fruit, honey, sorghum, sugar maple , and in many...

. It is a C-3 epimer

Epimer

In chemistry, epimers are diastereomers that differ in configuration of only one stereogenic center. Diastereomers are a class of stereoisomers that are non-superposable, non-mirror images of one another, unlike enantiomers which are non-superposable mirror images of one another.center|350pxFor...

 of D-fructose

Fructose

Fructose is a simple monosaccharide found in many foods. It is a white solid that dissolves readily in water. Honey, tree fruits, berries, melons, and some root vegetables, contain significant amounts of the fructose derivative sucrose...

, and is present in small quantities in agricultural products and commercially-prepared carbohydrate complexes. It is known as a "rare sugar" because it is rarely found in nature, and even when found, only in small amounts. D-Psicose yields only 0.3% the metabolic energy of the equivalent amount of sucrose

Sucrose

Sucrose, commonly called table sugar, is a moosaccharide of glucose and fructose with the molecular formula C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁. This white, odorless, crystalline powder has a pleasing, sweet taste. It is best known for its role in human nutrition...

. Its name derives from the antibiotic

Antibiotic

In common usage, an antibiotic is a substance or compound that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria...

 psicofuranine, from which it can be isolated. Research is being conducted into how it can be used in diets to aid in combatting hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia, hyperglycaemia, or high blood sugar is a condition in which an excessive amount of glucose circulates in the blood plasma. This is generally a blood glucose level of 10+ mmol/L , but symptoms may not start to become noticeable until later numbers such as 15-20+ mmol/L or...

, hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia, hyperlipoproteinemia, dyslipidemia or hyperlipidaemia is the presence of raised or abnormal levels of lipids and/or lipoproteins in the blood...

, and obesity

Obesity

Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...

.