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Tagatose

    Synonyms: D-lyxo-Hexulose; (3S,4S,5R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-2,3,4,5- tetrol; Naturlose; D-tagatose; tagatosum; tagatoza.

    Description: Tagatose is a white, anhydrous crystalline solid. It is a carbohydrate, a ketohexose, an epimer of D-fructose inverted at C-4. It can exist in several tautomeric forms.

    Chemical Name: (3S,4S,5R)-1,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyhexan-2-one

    Sweetening agent.

    • Tagatose is used as a sweetening agent in beverages, foods, and pharmaceutical applications.

    • A 10% solution of tagatose is about 92% as sweet as a 10% sucrose solution.

    • It is a low-calorie sugar with approximately 38% of the calories of sucrose per gram. It occurs naturally in low levels in milk products.

    • Like other sugars (fructose, glucose, sucrose), it is also used as a bulk sweetener, humectant, texturizer, and stabilizer, and may be used in dietetic foods with a low glycemic index

    A Maillard-type condensation reaction is likely to occur between tagatose and compounds with a primary amine group to form brown or yellow-brown colored Amidori compounds. Reducing sugars will also interact with secondary amines to form an imine, but without any accompanying yellow-brown discoloration.

    Tagatose is safe for use in food and beverages. It has been used in pharmaceutical products.

    Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of the material handled. Excessive generation of dust, or inhalation of dust, should be avoided.

    DL-Tagatose; L-tagatose.