Mannose
Mannose - mildly sweetening sugar with special properties
Mannose is a natural simple sugar (monosaccharide) that is chemically closely related to glucose. Due to its special structure, it is only absorbed by the body to a limited extent and is largely excreted unchanged. This property makes mannose a special type of sugar with a wide range of possible applications - both in nutrition and in product development.
Is mannose natural?
Yes, mannose is found in numerous natural sources - such as cranberries, apples, oranges and aloe vera. Certain tree barks such as birch also contain mannose. In the human body, mannose is a component of cell membranes and plays a role in cell communication.
How does mannose work in the body?
Only a small proportion of the mannose ingested is metabolized, the majority is excreted in the urine. This special utilization distinguishes mannose from other types of sugar and influences its possible uses - e.g. in sugar-reduced recipes or as a technical ingredient in certain products.
How does mannose affect blood glucose levels?
Compared to glucose, mannose is absorbed much more slowly and in smaller quantities. When consumed in normal quantities, it therefore does not lead to any significant blood sugar peaks. This can be relevant for people who want to ensure a steady supply of sugar.
Is mannose tooth-friendly?
As mannose is not broken down into acids by oral bacteria to the same extent as other types of sugar, it is considered to be potentially more tooth-friendly. However, long-term scientific studies on the exact effect on dental health are still pending.
How sweet does mannose taste?
Mannose has a moderate sweetening power - it reaches about 59 % of the sweetening power of household sugar. The taste is mild and clear, without an unpleasant aftertaste. This makes it suitable for many applications where a less dominant sweetness is desired.
How many calories does mannose contain?
According to current EU regulations, all sugars - including mannose - must be declared as having a calorific value of 400 kcal per 100 g. However, due to the low absorption rate, a smaller proportion is actually utilized by the body. However, due to the low absorption rate, a lower proportion is actually utilized by the body.
Is mannose suitable for intolerances?
Mannose contains neither lactose nor fructose and is gluten-free. It can therefore also be used in cases of lactose intolerance, fructose malabsorption or coeliac disease. However, if you have a sensitive digestive system, it is advisable to test your individual tolerance step by step.
Who is mannose less suitable for?
Mannose is well tolerated in normal quantities. Excessive consumption or a very sensitive digestive system may occasionally cause soft stools or flatulence. People with known metabolic disorders should consult a doctor before use.
What does the "D" in D-Mannose mean?
The "D" in D-mannose describes the spatial arrangement of the molecular structure (D-form) as it occurs in nature. It is the biologically relevant variant and differs from the chemically mirror-image L-form, which plays no role in human metabolism.
Notes on use with specific target groups
Products with mannose are often used in special foods or food supplements. People with special dietary needs or chronic metabolic diseases should discuss their use individually with a healthcare professional, especially if a specific sugar intake is to be limited.
Sources
- Gonzalez, P.S., O'Prey, J., Cardaci, S. et al. Mannose impairs tumor growth and enhances chemotherapy. Nature 563, 719-723 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0729-3
- Yoichiro Harada, Yu Mizote, Naoyuki Taniguchi, et al: Metabolic clogging of mannose triggers dNTP loss and genomic instability in human cancer cells eLife 12:e83870 (2023). https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.83870
- Li, Y., Yao, CF., Xu, FJ. et al. APC/CCDH1 synchronizes ribose-5-phosphate levels and DNA synthesis to cell cycle progression. Nat Commun 10, 2502 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-10375-x
- Panneerselvam, Hudson H. Freeze: Mannose Enters Mammalian Cells Using a Specific Transporter That Is Insensitive to Glucose. Journal of Biological Chemistry (1996). https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.271.16.9417
- Ruonan Zhang, Yajing Yang, Lei Lv, et al: D-mannose facilitates immunotherapy and radiotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer via degradation of PD-L1; in: PNAS (2022). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2114851119
- Fang Nan, Yutong Sun, Hantian Liang, et al: Mannose: A Sweet Option in the Treatment of Cancer and Inflammation. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2022). https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2022.877543
- Sadaf Al Hadeethi, Chirine El-Baba, Khaled Araji, et al: Mannose Inhibits the Pentose Phosphate Pathway in Colorectal Cancer and Enhances Sensitivity to 5-Fluorouracil Therapy. Cancers (2023). https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15082268
- Woodley, K., Dillingh, L.S., Giotopoulos, G. et al. Mannose metabolism inhibition sensitizes acute myeloid leukaemia cells to therapy by driving ferroptotic cell death. Nat Commun 14, 2132 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-37652-0
- Zewei Wei, Lianfang Huang, Liao Cui, et al: Mannose: Good player and assister in pharmacotherapy. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110420
- Li, M., Zhao, X., Yong, H. et al. Transketolase promotes colorectal cancer metastasis through regulating AKT phosphorylation. Cell Death Dis 13, 99 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-04575-5
- Gonzalez, P.S., O'Prey, J., Cardaci, S. et al. Mannose impairs tumor growth and enhances chemotherapy. Nature 563, 719-723 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0729-3
- Ruonan Zhang, Wenjing Dong, Lei Lv, et al: D-mannose facilitates immunotherapy and radiotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer via degradation of PD-L1. PNAS (2022). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2114851119
- Liu, Z., Hayashi, H., Matsumura, K. et al. Hyperglycaemia induces metabolic reprogramming into a glycolytic phenotype and promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transitions via YAP/TAZ-Hedgehog signalling axis in pancreatic cancer. Br J Cancer 128, 844-856 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41416-022-02106-9
- Luo, H., Wang, X., Wang, Y. et al. Mannose enhances the radio-sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with low MPI expression by suppressing glycolysis. Discov Onc 13, 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-021-00447-0
- Elizabeth L. Lieu, Neil Kelekar, Jiyeon Kim, et al: Fructose and Mannose in Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Cancer. Metabolites. 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo11080479
- Vandana Sharma, Jamie Smolin, Jonamani Nayak, et al: Mannose Alters Gut Microbiome, Prevents Diet-Induced Obesity, and Improves Host Metabolism. Cell Reports. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2018.08.064
- Haojie Zhang, Xue Zhao, Xuelian Ma, et al: D-Mannose promotes recovery from experimental colitis by inducing AMPK phosphorylation to stimulate epithelial repair. Food & Function. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO03146B