The cellobiose found in natural foods – honey, pine needles and maize stems – has a faint sweetness, but it does not break down easily in the body, making it difficult to digest.

What is the source of cellobiose?

Cellobiose is a disaccharide with the formula (C6H7(OH)4O)2O. It is classified as a reducing sugar. In terms of its chemical structure, it is derived from the condensation of a pair β-glucose molecules forging a β(1→4) bond. It can be hydrolyzed to glucose enzymatically or with acid.

How is cellobiose produced?

Cellobiose is produced by hydrolysis of cellulose, a homopolysaccharide of glucose in which all units are linked by β-l,4ʹ-glycosidic bonds. Humans do not have an enzyme to hydrolyze cellobiose.