Maltose and other sugars in health and disease
What it found
Maltose, lactose and sucrose are eaten very often in the human diet, and the authors say it is critical to understand their role in health and disease.
The paper also notes that getting dietary energy from sugars has key nutritional benefits, but that life-threatening issues exist with constant or excess consumption.
What they found
Energy from sugars
There are key nutritional health benefits of receiving dietary energy in the form of sugars.
Excess sugar intake
Life-threatening issues exist associated with constant or excess consumption of these sugars.
Genetic disorders
Genetic disorders can affect health when these disaccharides are consumed, such as specific disaccharide intolerance due to a lack of the relevant digestive enzymes.
Structure and properties
The paper gives an insight into the structure and properties of lactose, maltose and sucrose in health and disease.
What the authors conclude
“As the three common dietary disaccharides (lactose, maltose, and sucrose) are consumed on a very regular basis in the human diet, it is critical to understand insofar as possible their role in health and disease.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say that because lactose, maltose and sucrose are consumed very regularly in the human diet, it is critical to understand insofar as possible their role in health and disease.
- They state that the review provides an insight into the structure and properties of these molecules in health and disease.
How it was done
The authors wanted to give a comprehensive reference source on the role of these disaccharides in human nutrition, since they are consumed very regularly in the human diet.
The authors searched key reference sources including Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, and Wiley Online, and selected key reference works to support the factual basis of the text.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This is a review of selected reference works, not a new study in people or animals.
- It cannot show cause and effect between these sugars and any health outcome.
The paper
- Title
- Lactose, Maltose, and Sucrose in Health and Disease
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Qi X, Tester RF (2020). Lactose, Maltose, and Sucrose in Health and Disease. Molecular nutrition & food research. doi:10.1002/mnfr.201901082PubMed 32045507DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error