Acute effects of feeding fructose, glucose and sucrose on blood lipid levels and systemic inflammation

Abstract

BackgroundRecent studies have demonstrated a relationship between fructose consumption and risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Mechanisms by which dietary fructose mediates metabolic changes are poorly understood. This study compared the effects of fructose, glucose and sucrose consumption on post-postprandial lipemia and low grade inflammation measured as hs-CRP.MethodsThis was a randomized, single blinded, cross-over trial involving healthy subjects (n = 14). After an overnight fast, participants were given one of 3 different isocaloric drinks, containing 50 g of either fructose or glucose or sucrose dissolved in water. Blood samples were collected at baseline, 30, 60 and 120 minutes post intervention for the analysis of blood lipids, glucose, insulin and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).ResultsGlucose and sucrose supplementation initially resulted in a significant increase in glucose and insulin levels compared to fructose supplementation and returned to near baseline values within 2 hours. Change in plasma cholesterol, LDL and HDL-cholesterol (measured as area under curve, AUC) was significantly higher when participants consumed fructose compared with glucose or sucrose (P < 0.05). AUC for plasma triglyceride levels however remained unchanged regardless of the dietary intervention. Change in AUC for hs-CRP was also significantly higher in subjects consuming fructose compared with those consuming glucose (P < 0.05), but not sucrose (P = 0.07).ConclusionThis study demonstrates that fructose as a sole source of energy modulates plasma lipids and hsCRP levels in healthy individuals. The significance of increase in HDL-cholesterol with a concurrent increase in LDL-cholesterol and elevated hs-CRP levels remains to be delineated when considering health effects of feeding fructose-rich diets.Registration number for clinical trialsACTRN12614000431628

Endothelial mechanotransduction proteins and vascular function are altered by dietary sucrose supplementation in healthy young male subjects

“…The supplementation of a normal diet with 3 × 75 g of sucrose results in a repeated transient ∼50% and 700% increase in blood glucose and insulin, respectively (Jameel et al . ). The response curve to sucrose is similar to that of a standard oral glucose tolerance test and blood glucose returns to initial levels after 2 h in the morning and after 3 h at midday and in the evening (Jarrett et al .…”

Greater insulin response to acute fructose ingestion among Māori and Pacific people compared to European people living in Aotearoa New Zealand

“…Other plasma indicators of metabolic syndrome, such as plasma glucose, lipids and hsCRP, were not significantly altered in response to acute fructose/glucose load in our study. The lipidaemic and pro‐inflammatory effects of fructose ingestion have been reported in several studies, with heterogeneous results . In a cross‐over study of 14 normal‐weight, Australian participants, a single acute dose of fructose produced a significant increase in hsCRP, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol but no significant change in TG .…”

Lactose, Maltose, and Sucrose in Health and Disease

“…[ 9 ] Cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein, and high‐density lipoprotein changes in the blood have been reviewed in detail by Jameel et al. [ 10 ] They discussed the role of fructose, glucose, and sucrose in this context and concluded that fructose has the greatest impact on blood lipids. Readers are referred to, for example, the recent review of Kearns et al.…”