Because of its inhibition of glycolysisin vitro, it has been investigated as a novelnutraceuticals for weight management for dogs.[5][6] However, while mannoheptulose is suggested to affect the energy balance of adult dogs, independent of dosage and physical activity, research disagrees whether it significantly alters energy expenditure in dogs.
Mannoheptulose has been reported to inhibit insulin secretion from pancreas.[7] This inhibition occurs because when mannoheptulose is present the glycolysis is inhibited (because there is no production of glucose-6-P) therefore no increase in ATP concentration which is required to close the KATP channel in the beta cells of the pancreas causing a diminution of calcium entry and insulin secretion.
Mannoheptulose is naturally occurring inalfalfa,[1]avocados,[8][1]fig,[1] and theprimrose.[1] Heptoses can make up over a tenth of the tissue dry weight of the avocado tree.[1] Though the carbohydrate is thought to be produced during photosynthesis[8] the precise biological pathway for the synthesis of mannoheptulose was unknown as of 2002.[1] Like other sugars it is transported in thephloem.[8][1]
^Olivier Scruel; Chantal Vanhoutte; Abdullah Sener; Willy Jean Malaisse (1998-10-01). "Interference of D-mannoheptulose with D-glucose phosphorylation, metabolism and functional effects: Comparison between liver, parotid cells and pancreatic islets".Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry.187 (1/2):113–120.doi:10.1023/A:1006812300200.PMID9788748.S2CID28158640.
