Disaccharides are made of two monosaccharide molecules. The 3 most common disaccharides in food are sucrose, lactose and maltose.

Sucrose

  •  sucrose consists of fructose + glucose..
  • is made from refined sugar cane or sugar beet
  • is also known as table sugar

Lactose

  • is in human milk, cow and goats milk
  • the concentration of lactose is higher in human milk which makes it sweeter than cow’s milk
  • lactose is broken down into glucose and galactose by an enzyme called lactase.
  • Some people have lower levels of lactase which can make this process more challenging leading to what is known

Maltose

  • Is also known as malt sugar
  • Consists of 2 molecules of sucrose
  • is a result of the breakdown of larger carbohydrate molecules called polysaccharides (starch)
  • arises during frementation of alcohol