Glucocerebrosides are formed by the tethering of glucose to a ceramide by glucosylceramide synthase. They are present in neuronal and non-neuronal mammalian tissues and are found at low quantities in a large number of plant species. Glucocerebrosides are precursors in the synthesis of lactosylceramides and gangliosides. Increased levels of glucocerebrosides are associated with obesity-induced insulin resistance in mice and with neuronal deficits observed in neuronopathic Gaucher disease. This product is a mixture of glucocerebrosides, with variable ceramide chain lengths, isolated from a spleen of a human with Gaucher's disease.