Intestinal monosaccharide transport processes

Intestinal monosaccharide transport processes refer to the coordinated physiological mechanisms that facilitate the absorption of simple sugars—primarily glucose, galactose, and fructose—from the intestinal lumen into the blood [2.1.1, 2.2.1]. This system relies on three primary transmembrane transporters: Sodium/glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1), which actively transports glucose and galactose across the apical membrane; Glucose transporter 5 (GLUT5), which facilitates apical fructose uptake; and Glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), which mediates the basolateral exit of all three sugars into the circulation [2.1.4, 2.2.5]. SGLT1 is a high-affinity, sodium-dependent transporter, while GLUT2 and GLUT5 operate via facilitated diffusion [2.2.1]. These processes are essential for nutrient assimilation and the regulation of systemic glucose levels [2.2.1]. Pharmacological targeting of these transport processes, particularly through SGLT1 inhibition, is an emerging strategy for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity [2.2.1]. Drugs like sotagliflozin and licogliflozin inhibit SGLT1 to delay glucose absorption, thereby reducing postprandial hyperglycemia and promoting the secretion of incretin hormones such as GLP-1 [2.2.2, 2.2.3]. However, the inhibition of intestinal sugar transport can lead to significant gastrointestinal side effects, such as osmotic diarrhea and flatulence, caused by the fermentation of unabsorbed carbohydrates in the colon [2.2.1, 2.3.2]. Genetic deficiencies in these transporters result in rare disorders like glucose-galactose malabsorption (SGLT1) and Fanconi-Bickel syndrome (GLUT2) [2.2.1].

Other names

Intestinal sugar transportIntestinal hexose transportMonosaccharide absorptionIntestinal glucose transport

Inhibition of SGLT1-mediated apical glucose/galactose uptake, inhibition of GLUT5-mediated apical fructose uptake, and inhibition of GLUT2-mediated basolateral monosaccharide efflux.