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From: dd26+@andrew.cmu.edu (Douglas F. DeJulio)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: Glucose Digestion
Message-ID: 
Date: 8 Jul 88 21:48:40 GMT
References: <5193@super.upenn.edu>
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Organization: Carnegie Mellon
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In-Reply-To: <5193@super.upenn.edu>

*Excerpts from ext.nn.sci.bio: 27-Jun-88 Glucose Digestion Siufai*
*Li@eniac.seas.upe (237)*

> I have been told that humans can only digest R-glucose, but not L-glucose.
> But that both taste as sweet.  Therefore to get really rich, find a cheap
> way to make L-glucose.  Can anyone in netland confirm/deny this rumor?

        The rumor is true: there are two varieties of glucose, both taste
sweet, only one is metabolized properly.  If I remember correctly, the 'wrong'
type of glucose does mean nasty ugly things to the liver or kidneys.

Doug.deJ