The Effects of High Fructose Syrup

Abstract

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has become an increasingly common food ingredient in the last 40 years. However, there is concern that HFCS consumption increases the risk for obesity and other adverse health outcomes compared to other caloric sweeteners. The most commonly used types of HFCS (HFCS-42 and HFCS-55) are similar in composition to sucrose (table sugar), consisting of roughly equal amounts of fructose and glucose. The primary difference is that these monosaccharides exist free in solution in HFCS, but in disaccharide form in sucrose. The disaccharide sucrose is easily cleaved in the small intestine, so free fructose and glucose are absorbed from both sucrose and HFCS. The advantage to food manufacturers is that the free monosaccharides in HFCS provide better flavor enhancement, stability, freshness, texture, color, pourability, and consistency in foods in comparison to sucrose. Because the composition of HFCS and sucrose is so similar, particularly on absorption by the body, it appears unlikely that HFCS contributes more to obesity or other conditions than sucrose does. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated the potentially differential effect of various sweeteners, particularly as they relate to health conditions such as obesity, which develop over relatively long periods of time. Improved nutrient databases are needed to analyze food consumption in epidemiologic studies, as are more strongly designed experimental studies, including those on the mechanism of action and relationship between fructose dose and response. At the present time, there is insufficient evidence to ban or otherwise restrict use of HFCS or other fructose-containing sweeteners in the food supply or to require the use of warning labels on products containing HFCS. Nevertheless, dietary advice to limit consumption of all added caloric sweeteners, including HFCS, is warranted.

High consumption of fructose rather than glucose promotes a diet-induced obese phenotype in Drosophila melanogaster

“…On the other hand, 147 fructose is more tolerated at higher doses, but it has the trade-off to pro-148 mote obesity. These metabolic features are similar to the ones previous-149 ly described in mammals (Basciano et al, 2005;Johnson et al, 2009;150 Moeller et al, 2009;Tappy and Lê, 2010). Therefore, one can conclude 151 that glucose and fructose play conserved roles in nutrient regulation Food consumption was measured indirectly with erioglaucine dye 204 (FD&C Blue No.…”

“…Taking into account that 569 DHAP is a precursor for lipid biosynthesis, its incorporation into lipids, 570 particularly TAG, requires fewer steps than in case of glycolysis which 571 starts from glucose (Basciano et al, 2005;Q10 Tappy and Lê, 2010;572 Johnson et al, 2009;Moeller et al, 2009;Stanhope et al, 2013;573 Q11 Johnson et al, n.d.). Indeed, flies fed fructose accumulated more TAG 574 than glucose fed ones.…”

“…Therefore, rapid 577 phosphorylation of fructose by its specific kinase may induce transient 578 ATP depletion in the cell. Since depletion of ATP is associated with dra-579 matic increase in AMP generation, fructose may create a "false state" of 580 cellular starvation in the brain (Cha et al, 2008), but at the same time 581 supplies substrates for lipid biosynthesis (Basciano et al, 2005;582 Johnson et al, 2009;Moeller et al, 2009;Tappy and Le, 2010). (4) (Lanaspa et al, 2012).…”

Effect of Substitution of Sugar by High Fructose Corn Syrup on the Physicochemical Properties of Bakery and Dairy Products: A Review

“…In various food products with respect to their complicated matrixes, HFCS have different functional properties. It is revealed that HFCS can provide better flavor, color, texture, stability and freshness in comparison to sucrose in some branches of food products such as beverages, processed foods, baking products, ice cream and confectionaries (12). There is no such difference in composition or metabolism from other fructose glucose sweeteners (for instance, sucrose, honey, and fruit juice concentrates).…”

Macronutrient Intake for Physical Activity

“…Beverages such as sodas, fruit juices, energy drinks, and functional waters are sweetened with simple sugars [ 9 ], and these sugar-sweetened beverages are associated with an increased risk of weight gain, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes in both children and adults [ 10 -12 ]. Furthermore, simple carbohydrates have also been associated with a greater risk for certain cancers [ 10 ].…”