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However, turns out L-glucose is a laxative. If our enzymes can't bind to it, what is causing this physiological response?
by acchow 6y ago
However, turns out L-glucose is a laxative. If our enzymes can't bind to it, what is causing this physiological response?
- roywiggins 6y agoReddit agrees with my first instinct that it probably draws water into your gut via osmosis. https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2347u0/til_that_glucose_sugar_has_an_opposite_handed/cgtecw5/ https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/2347u0/til_t...
- refurb 6y agoThe other reason is that often the bacteria in your gut can metabolize sugars that our own enzymes can't. They basically go nuts with a huge food source. You get gas and diarrhea because of their waste products.
- novia 6y agoYou're being downvoted because EVERY form of life on earth discovered so far metabolizes D-Glucose. If you find a microbe with the ability to metabolize L-Glucose it'll be big news, and most likely an alien.
- dwohnitmok 6y agoNot quite. "An L-glucose catabolic pathway in Paracoccus species 43P" https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23038265/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23038265/ But it's true the vast vast majority of life on earth cannot metabolize L-glucose and it would be unlikely to have bacteria in your gut capable of metabolizing it.
- ars 6y agoThe sugar is not digested so it remains in the gut. Then the sugar, because of osmosis, draws water in from the surrounding tissue. This extra water then causes the laxative effect.
- m463 6y agoand then you lose weight (water weight)
- meiraleal 6y agoIt is weird to imagine that the evolution is to eat a laxative cake in place of taking care of sugar addiction. "Hey! This version of cocaine makes you still feel hungry!"