For the human body, every part of the nutrient is important to take up for a healthy mind and body. A healthy diet consists of all the nutrients in equal proportions: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, amino acids, sugars, fibre, roughage, etc.
They all have constituents, from the simple version to the complex one. Sugars are also distinguished in many other forms, from monosaccharides to oligosaccharides and polysaccharides (the complex ones).
Key Takeaways
- Dextrose is a simple sugar that is also known as glucose and is the primary source of energy for the body.
- Sucrose is a complex sugar of glucose and fructose, commonly known as table sugar.
- The main difference between dextrose and sucrose is their chemical composition and how the body metabolizes them.
Dextrose vs Sucrose
The difference between Dextrose and Sucrose is that Dextrose is classified as a monosaccharide with a single unit of sugar, that is, Glucose, whereas comparatively, on the other hand, Sucrose is classified as a disaccharide sugar along with the two-unit of sugar, that is, Glucose and fructose. Dextrose is the sugar known to be Glucose, while Sucrose is also known to be Table Sugar.
Dextrose sugar is a great example of a monosaccharide and is a single glucose unit of it. The most common source of sugar is corn. The taste of sweetness of dextrose is less compared to Sucrose.
It is one of the natural sources of sugar obtained from sugarcane or, say, from starch.
Sucrose sugar is another great example of disaccharide sugar and comprises two units โ one is Glucose, and one is fructose.
It is also known as naturally occurring sugar, and the main sources for it are โ fruits, cereals, vegetables, and many other sources. Also, it is used as an additive sugar agent in many food items.ย ย
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Dextrose | Sucrose |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Monosaccharides are made up of Glucose units. | Disaccharides made up of Glucose unit and Fructose unit |
| Common Name | Glucose | Table Sugar |
| Synonyms | D or L-glucose | Saccharose |
| Sweetness | Less | More |
| Nature of Sugar | Simple | Complex |
| Source | Bread, vegetables, cereals, and many more | Honey, syrup, and many other |
| Blood Sugar Levels | Increases | Increases but not eventually |
| Energy Level | Increase the drop | Stabilize for a longer time |
| Glycemic Index | High | Less |
What is Dextrose?
Dextrose is the scientific term that is used in place of โโglucoseโโ. This is an example of monosaccharide sugar which is a simple form of sugar. The constitute of sugar is made up of one single unit, and it is Glucose.
On the other side, the chemical synonym that is used by scientists for sugar dextrose is โโD or L-glucoseโโ.
Naturally occurring sugar has the main source of corn. The other sources for obtaining sugar can be fruits, cereals, vegetables, and many other things. The dextrose sugar is less sweetened in taste.
Because of its simple sugar, the body can metabolize it easily in the body.
The intake of sugar causes an increase in blood sugar levels. It also causes to increase in the energy levels of the body, but with time, it decreases. Also, the glycemic index of dextrose sugar tends to be high.
What is Sucrose?
Sucrose is the scientific term used instead of โโtable sugarโโ. Sugar is a form of carbohydrate that exists in two forms that is simple and complex. In the sub-classification of sugars, Sucrose is an example of a disaccharide.
The constituent of the sugar is made with two units, Glucose and fructose, in the ratio of 50:50 or 1:1.
The naturally occurring sugar is obtained from sugar cane and sugar beet.
The other sources for obtaining the sugar are vegetables, fruits, and cereals also sometimes act as added sugar in some processed food items like โ beverages, soda, canned fruits or vegetables, ice cream, etc.
It provides stable energy levels that maintain in the human body. The blood sugar level is increased by the intake of this type of sugar, but the response is not immediate.
Main Differences Between Dextrose and Sucrose
- Dextrose is classified as one of the sugars listed as monosaccharide, which is made up of a single glucose unit, whereas comparatively, on the other hand, Sucrose is classified as a sugar listed as one of the examples of disaccharide and hence is made up of two combined units of Glucose and fructose.
- The chemical formula of the sugar Dextrose is C6H1206, whereas comparatively, on the other hand, the chemical formula of the sugar Sucrose is C12H22O11.ย
- The common name by which dextrose is popularly is known as โโglucoseโโ whereas comparatively, on the other hand, the common name by which Sucrose is popularly known is โโtable sugarโโ.
- The synonyms chemically used by scientists to signify dextrose are โโD or L-glucoseโโ whereas comparatively, on the other hand, the synonyms chemically used by the scientists to signify Sucrose are โโsaccharoseโโ.
- The amount of sugar or the taste of sugar in dextrose or Glucose is less, whereas comparatively, on the other hand, Sucrose is much sweeter.
- Dextrose sugar is termed as a simple sugar, and hence it is easier for the body to metabolize it, whereas comparatively, on the other hand, sucrose sugar is termed as complex sugar, and because of this, the body finds it difficult for it to metabolize and hence takes longer time to digest.
- The major source of dextrose sugar is cereals, vegetables, bread, and many others, whereas comparatively, on the other hand, the major source for sucrose sugar is honey, syrup, and many others.ย
- Dextrose sugar increases the blood sugar level of the body, whereas comparatively, on the other hand, sucrose sugar increases the blood sugar level but not eventually of the body.
- Dextrose sugar tends to increase the energy level of the body, whereas comparatively, on the other hand, sucrose sugar maintains the steadiness in the energy level that is maintained for quite a long time.
- The glycemic index for Dextrose sugar is high, whereas comparatively, on the other hand, the glycemic index for Sucrose sugar is less.ย
References
- https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/jres/045/4/v45.n04.a05.pdf
- http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/2632
- https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/109662004322984789
- https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/i560089a004
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
