A disaccharide is a type of carbohydrate molecule made up of two monosaccharides, or simple sugars, chemically bonded together The most common disaccharides are sucrose, lactose, and maltose. A disaccharide is a larger, more complex form of carbohydrate, and it's easier to digest than many other carbohydrates. Disaccharides provide the body with energy, and the simple sugars contained within them are quickly broken down into monosaccharides so that they can be absorbed by the body.
1. Sucrose: Commonly known as table sugar, sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose. It is the sweetest of all disaccharides and is used in food and beverage production, pharmaceuticals, and other industries.
2. Lactose: This disaccharide is found in dairy products and is composed of glucose and galactose. Lactose intolerance is a medical condition that makes it hard for people to digest lactose because of the absence of an enzyme called lactase.
3. Maltose: This disaccharide is primarily produced from the breakdown of starch. It is composed of two molecules of glucose and is found in many fermented foods, such as beer and wine.
4. Cellobiose: This disaccharide is made up of two glucose molecules and is found in in plants and the intestinal tracts of animals. It can be broken down into glucose, which can then be absorbed by the body.
5. Trehalose: Trehalose is a disaccharide found in mushrooms, yeasts, and other organisms. It is composed of two molecules of glucose and it is believed to help protect the organisms in which it is found from dehydration and other forms of stress.