Mannose - Definition and Overview

Mannose is a sugar, one of the hexose series of carbohydrates. Mannose enters the carbohydrate metabolism stream by phosphorylation and conversion to fructose-6-phosphate.

D-Mannose, which appears in some fruits including cranberry, may prevent adhesion of bacteria to tissues of the urinary tract and bladder.

Mannose can be formed by the oxidation of mannitol. The root of both these words is manna, the food supplied to the Israelites during their journey through Arabia (divinely supplied), which is the sweet secretion of several trees and shrubs, such as fraxinus ornus.

Structure

The first two and last two -OH groups point in opposite directions.

Isomerism

D-Mannose has the same configuration at its penultimate carbon as D-glyceraldehyde.

External links

• Mannose may be useful for treating equine uterine infections (http://www.equinescienceupdate.co.uk/mannos.htm)
• effects of D-Mannose on E.Coli in bladder infection (http://www.bladder-infection-zone.com/research.html)
• Mannose chemical structure (http://food.oregonstate.edu/sugar/mannose.html)