(1) Naturally occurring life elements

As a natural monosaccharate, mannose was found in the epidermis of apples (0.7-1.2%) and oranges (0.3-0.8%). Its molecular formula was ?. C?H??O? and glucose ?. ?8. During human metabolism, mannose enters cells via a specific transporter, GLUT1, but does not activate the insulin-secreting system, a property that makes it a safe sweet choice for diabetics ?78.

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(2) The rise of new food additives

In 2023, the National Health Commission listed konjac mannose oligomeric as a new food raw material, marking the official entry of mannose into the food industry application field ?7. The degree of polymerization of mannose oligosaccharide obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of konjac glucomannan is controlled within 2-10 sugar units, which not only retains natural properties but also has processing adaptability. ?7 has been applied in more than 20 kinds of food such as sugar-free beverages and functional biscuits.

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Second, the healthy empowering mechanism of mannose

(a) the natural barrier of the urinary tract system

Clinical data show that 2g of mannose per day can reduce the incidence of recurrent urinary tract infections in women by 38%?8. Its mechanism of action includes:

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? physical clearance ? : 90% of intake is excreted through urethra within 30-60 minutes, and pathogenic bacteria (such as E. coli) are excreted from the body ?8;

? biofilm cracking ? : destroy the β-1, 4-glucoside bond of bacterial biofilm, improve the bactericidal efficiency of antibiotics by 3 times ?78;

? immune regulation ? : promote the secretion of defensin by urethral epithelial cells, enhance local immunity ?8.

(2) The invisible guardian of intestinal health

Konjac mannooligosaccharide can prolifize probiotics such as bifidobacterium, and increase the abundance of intestinal flora by 25%?7. In a clinical trial at Wuhan Union Medical College Hospital, after taking mannose oligosigro for 4 weeks, the frequency of bowel defecation increased from 2.3 to 4.1 times per week, and the incidence of abdominal distension decreased by 62%?7.

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(3) A tool for the prevention and control of metabolic diseases

Unlike artificial sweeteners, mannose has a glycemic index (GI) of 0, and replacing sucrose in baked goods reduced peak postprandial blood sugar by 2.1mmol/L in diabetic patients ?78. A 2024 Journal of Nutrition study confirmed that mannose improves impaired glucose tolerance in insulin resistant patients ?7 by activating AMPK pathway.

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3.Innovative practices in the food industry

(1) Examples of functional food development

? urinary protection drinks ? : 500mg/ bottle of mannose oligosaccharide was added to a cranberry complex beverage of a certain brand, and the sales volume exceeded 2 million cases in the first half year ?7;

? sugar-control bakery ? : meal replacement bread made with konjac and mannose-oligosaccharide has 45% less carbohydrate and three times more fibre ?7;

? Nutrition fortification for children ? : Cheese sticks with mannose added can promote calcium absorption rate by 18%, which has been included in 30% kindergarten meal supply system ?7.

(2) Breakthroughs in processing technology innovation

The directed enzymatic hydrolysis technology developed by Hubei enterprises has increased the conversion rate of konjac glucomannan from 58% to 92%, and reduced the production cost by 40%?7. The application of microencapsulation process has extended the stability of mannose to 60 minutes at 120℃, and expanded its application in the field of baking ?78.

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4.Scientific cognition and rational application

(1) The Golden Rule of dose control

? Safety threshold ? : a single intake does not exceed 3g, the daily intake is controlled within 5g, excessive may cause abdominal distension, diarrhea (incidence of about 7%) ?8;

? special population warning ? : renal insufficiency patients excretion rate decreased by 50%, need to use ?8 under the guidance of a doctor;

? Synergistic scheme ? : Combined with cranberry extract, antibacterial effect increased by 2.3 times ?8.

(2) Industry evolution of marking standards

The General Rules for Nutrition Labelling of Prepackaged Foods as amended in 2024 require:

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Mannose shall be marked separately in the ingredients list and shall not be mixed with the general term "sweetener" ?7;

Function claims need to be marked "not for alternative drug treatment "?8;

Dosage ≥1g/100g should be marked "may cause minor intestinal discomfort "?7.

1.Disputes and future prospects

(1) Existing focus of dispute

? Long-term effects to be observed ? : long-term effects of continuous intake for more than 5 years on intestinal flora are not clear ?7;

? Naturalness ? : Whether the enzymatic hydrolysis process changes the essential properties of substances causes academic discussion ?7;

? Ecological chain impacts ? : Konjac cultivation expansion has led to the transformation of 30% of traditional crop land, which may affect biodiversity ?7.

(2) Direction of technological development

? precision application ? : Development of mannose derivatives specific to different strains ?8;

? green production ? : Konjac varieties improved by CRISPR technology, the glucomannan content increased from 60% to 85%?7;

? Intelligent monitoring ? : Wearable device monitors urinary mannose concentration in real time for personalized supplement ?8.

Conclusion

As a model of the integration of nature and technology, mannose not only continues the ancient wisdom under the apple tree, but also shines the light of modern food engineering. Under the guidance of the Healthy China 2030 strategy, this functional and safe additive is reshaping the boundaries of people's understanding of food additives. However, it is necessary to realize that the rational use of any additive should be based on a balanced diet, as "Unavoidable Food Additives" says: "Science and technology have made food more possible, but reverence for nature has always been the foundation of the food industry.