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Updated: Aug 5, 2025

Rapid One-step Enzymatic Synthesis and All-aqueous Purification of Trehalose Analogues
Published on: February 17, 2017
Dietary Trehalose as a Bioactive Nutrient
Anqi Chen1,2, Patrick A Gibney1
1Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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.
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