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Review
. 2023 Mar 14;15(6):1393.
doi: 10.3390/nu15061393.

Dietary Trehalose as a Bioactive Nutrient

Anqi Chen  1   2 , Patrick A Gibney  1
Affiliations
Review

Dietary Trehalose as a Bioactive Nutrient

Anqi Chen et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Trehalose is a naturally occurring, non-reducing disaccharide comprising two covalently-linked glucose molecules. It possesses unique physiochemical properties, which account for multiple biological roles in a variety of prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. In the past few decades, intensive research on trehalose has uncovered its functions, and extended its uses as a sweetener and stabilizer in the food, medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Further, increased dietary trehalose consumption has sparked research on how trehalose affects the gut microbiome. In addition to its role as a dietary sugar, trehalose has gained attention for its ability to modulate glucose homeostasis, and potentially as a therapeutic agent for diabetes. This review discusses the bioactive effects of dietary trehalose, highlighting its promise in future industrial and scientific contributions.

Keywords: Clostridioides difficile; diabetes; gut microbiome; sweeteners; trehalose.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structural illustration of trehalose, a disaccharide formed by combining two glucose molecules with an α-1,1 glycosidic linkage (α-D-glucopyranosyl-1,1-α-D-glucopyranoside).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Bioactive roles of trehalose as a dietary nutrient. The three main bioactive roles of trehalose discussed in this manuscript are indicated, along with arrows to indicate the proposed mechanisms of action (text in italics).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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