Which one of the following sugar concentration is highest in honey?

Appeared in: BHU NO - 2015

Explanation

Fructose is the most abundant sugar in honey, with a concentration of approximately 40%.
Honey is formed when the enzyme invertase from bees breaks down sucrose in nectar into glucose and fructose.
The concentration of fructose in honey is higher than that of glucose, which is the second most abundant sugar (around 30%).
This high fructose content is responsible for honey's characteristic sweetness and its tendency to remain liquid.

Option A: Lactose is the primary sugar found in milk and dairy products. It is not a component of honey.
Option B: Maltose is a disaccharide made of two glucose units. It is found in germinating grains and is only present in trace amounts in honey.
Option C: Glucose is the second most abundant sugar in honey, with a concentration of about 30%. However, its concentration is lower than that of fructose.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Biochemical composition of honey as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Because fructose is sweeter than sucrose (table sugar), a smaller amount of honey can be used to achieve the same level of sweetness, which can be a consideration for calorie-conscious individuals.
Nurses should advise patients with diabetes to use honey with caution. Although it has a slightly lower glycemic index than pure glucose or sucrose, it is still a concentrated source of sugar and will significantly impact blood glucose levels.
What if? If a patient has hereditary fructose intolerance, they must avoid honey completely, as its high fructose content can lead to severe hypoglycemia and liver damage.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the key terms in the question: 'highest', 'sugar concentration', and 'honey'.
Recognize this as a factual recall question from biochemistry or nutrition.
Recall the main components of honey. It is primarily made of simple sugars.
Compare the relative amounts of the sugars listed in the options.
Eliminate options that are incorrect. Lactose is milk sugar, and maltose is present in trace amounts.
Differentiate between the two main sugars, glucose and fructose, to identify which one has the higher concentration.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Textbook of Biochemistry for medical StudentsDM Vasudevan Part 1 (pp 26-370 of 370) p. 75-77

Practise the full BHU NO - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.