Glucozei

Glucozei is the Romanian term for glucose, a simple monosaccharide and an aldose with the chemical formula C6H12O6. In solution it mutarotates between alpha- and beta-D-glucose, and the open-chain form contains an aldehyde group. The biologically active form in humans is D-glucose; L-glucose is rare and not metabolized by most people.

In nature, glucose is produced by photosynthesis in plants and is a major component of fruits, honey, and starch-derived syrups. It is also commercially produced by enzymatic breakdown of starch and used as a sweetener, fermentation substrate, and pharmaceutical excipient.

Glucose is a primary energy source for many organisms. After ingestion or digestion, it is absorbed in the small intestine via glucose transporters (the GLUT family) and transported in the bloodstream. Through glycolysis it is converted to pyruvate, yielding ATP and NADH. Under aerobic conditions, pyruvate enters mitochondria to produce about 30–32 ATP per glucose; under anaerobic conditions, glycolysis yields about 2 ATP per glucose.

As a reducing sugar, glucose can form glycosidic bonds with other monosaccharides to create disaccharides and polysaccharides, such as maltose (glucose–glucose) and glycogen or starch (polymerized glucose). Regulation of blood glucose involves hormones like insulin and glucagon; dysregulation is central to diabetes mellitus. Clinically, blood glucose measurement is routine, and glucose solutions (dextrose) are used in medical care.