Psicose
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
D-Psicose (D-ribo-2-hexulose, C6H12O6) is an ultralow-energy monosaccharide sugar. It is a C-3 epimer of D-fructose, 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. Its name derives from the antibiotic psicofuranine, from which it can be isolated. Research is being conducted into how it can be used in diets to aid in combatting hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and obesity.