Researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) have uncovered an exciting discovery about stingless bee honey, finding that it contains a significant amount of a unique sugar called trehalulose. This disaccharide, which is rare in other foods, is linked to several health benefits, including preventing tooth decay, aiding weight loss, and managing type 2 diabetes.
Stingless bees, the largest group of honey-producing bees with over 600 species, are found in tropical and subtropical regions around the globe. Unlike traditional honey bees, which store honey in wax combs, stingless bees use pots made of wax mixed with tree resins, resulting in honey that has a distinct sour taste.
Dr. Natasha Hungerford, a senior research fellow and organic chemist at UQ, led the study that explored the unique properties of stingless bee honey. “We had a visiting researcher from Malaysia, Norhasnida Zawawi, who was interested in analyzing the sugars in stingless bee honey,” Hungerford explained. “When we characterized the sugars, we were surprised to find a large amount of a disaccharide that didn’t match any of the usual standards for sugars in food.”
The disaccharide identified is trehalulose, which consists of a fructose molecule linked to a glucose molecule. This study marked the first time trehalulose has been recognized as a major component in the honey of stingless bees, with levels ranging from 13 to 44 grams per 100 grams across five different species from the Neotropical and Indo-Australian regions.
“This finding is exciting because this sugar is not the major component of any other food,” Hungerford stated. Trehalulose’s unique structure contributes to its health benefits. Unlike sucrose (table sugar), trehalulose breaks down more slowly in the small intestine, resulting in a lower glycemic index (GI) and leading to a gradual rise in blood glucose rather than a spike.
The low GI of trehalulose could help individuals with type 2 diabetes by improving blood glucose control and insulin sensitivity. Additionally, the slow release of glucose can boost levels of leptin, a hormone that helps curb appetite, making trehalulose a potential option for those looking to lose weight.
A 2023 study reviewed existing research on trehalulose's health benefits, noting that it is less likely to contribute to tooth decay because it does not feed the oral bacteria that cause cavities. Furthermore, trehalulose is 60% to 70% as sweet as sucrose and highly soluble in water, making it suitable for various food products like jams and jellies.
Researchers are currently working, with funding from Sugar Research Australia, to identify the genes and enzymes that stingless bees use to produce trehalulose. “Hopefully, this discovery will lead to a way to manufacture pure trehalulose, which could be used in many products as a low GI sweetener. That’s our long-term goal,” Hungerford added.
This research not only highlights the distinctive qualities of stingless bee honey but also opens up potential new applications in the food and health industries, harnessing the natural benefits of trehalulose.
Source: New Atlas