Showing chemical card for D-galactitol (CFc000337754)
Record Information
Version
1.0
Creation Date
Update Date
2022-09-14 05:31:45 UTC
Chemfont ID
CFc000337754
Molecule Identification
Common Name
D-galactitol
Definition
Galactitol, also known as dulcitol or dulcose, is a member of the class of compounds known as sugar alcohols. Sugar alcohols are hydrogenated forms of carbohydrate in which the carbonyl group (aldehyde or ketone, reducing sugar) has been reduced to a primary or secondary hydroxyl group. Galactitol is soluble (in water) and a very weakly acidic compound (based on its pKa). Galactitol can be found in a number of food items such as pitanga, wild celery, kale, and fennel, which makes galactitol a potential biomarker for the consumption of these food products. Galactitol can be found primarily in most biofluids, including amniotic fluid, blood, urine, and feces, as well as throughout most human tissues. Galactitol exists in all living organisms, ranging from bacteria to humans. In humans, galactitol is involved in the galactose metabolism. Galactitol is also involved in galactosemia, which is a metabolic disorder. Moreover, galactitol is found to be associated with alzheimer's disease and galactosemia. Galactitol is a non-carcinogenic (not listed by IARC) potentially toxic compound. The other common galactose metabolism defect is a defect in galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, an autosomal recessive disorder, which also causes a buildup of galactitol as a result of increased concentrations of galactose-1-phosphate and galactose. This disorder leads to hepatosplenomegaly and mental retardation in addition to the cataracts caused by galactitol buildup . Accumulation of galactitol in the body has been shown to be toxic. Accumulation of galactitol in the lens causes the osmotic phenomena and results in cataract formation. It may form in excess in the lens of the eye in galactosemias, a deficiency of galactokinase (T3DB).
Belongs to the class of organic compounds known as sugar alcohols. These are hydrogenated forms of carbohydrate in which the carbonyl group (aldehyde or ketone, reducing sugar) has been reduced to a primary or secondary hydroxyl group.
