Another Study Damns Excess Fructose Consumption
Another study is poised to enrage those embattled against sodas and high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). A 10-week study led by Peter Havel from the University of California at Davis had groups of overweight men and women consume 25% of their daily calories from either glucose- or fructose-sweetened beverages. The results were dramatic.
Although there was comparable weight gain between the two groups, the fructose consuming participants had a myriad of significant negative metabolic effects. For instance, they had a greater build up of abdominal fat and decreased insulin sensitivity.
Altogether, the changes from the fructose diet resembled what is called the metabolic syndrome, the forerunner of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The study transfers that knowledge gained from previous studies on fructose consumption with rats and mice to human metabolism. Demonstrably, not all sugars are metabolized equally.
While some people may fly off to denounce high-fructose corn syrup, it is important to note that HFCS isn’t really all that high in fructose. HFCS is actually composed of 55% fructose and about 45% glucose, which is incredibly similar to regular table sugar (sucrose) with 50% fructose and 50% glucose. In other words, it’s not just soda that is the culprit, it is most everything made with added sugars.
It should be noted that fructose, glucose, and sucrose all appear naturally in whole foods. But, studies have not suggested that people develop the metabolic syndrome from consuming too many fruits and vegetables. Perhaps future studies will tell us differently.
In an editorial accompanying this study, Susanna Hofmann from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and Matthias Tschöp from the German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbrücke highlighted the need for further research:
“It is not known whether the adverse effects of sucrose and HFCS consumption are ‘diluted’ by their lower fructose content relative to pure fructose.
“In the absence of studies comparing the long-term effects of consuming HFCS and/or sucrose with 100 per cent fructose, it is not certain what levels of these sweeteners might increase the risk for atherosclerosis, CVD, and type 2 diabetes.”
In order to answer these questions, more studies with HFCS, sucrose, and pure fructose in different doses and in different populations are needed, they said.
The Corn Refiners Association certainly has its hands full these days. Their ads say HFCS, “like sugar, is fine in moderation”. In light of the current studies on sugar intake, one really has to ask what “fine” and “moderation” mean. Hopefully, future research will better define these vague, and therefore possibly abused terms.
Read more about the study from The New York Times. Or, if curious about the mechanisms by which fructose and glucose metabolise, see the proposed flow chart here.
May 25, 2009
Tags: food, Health, nutrition, obesity, sugar Posted in: Health, Science & Technology
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