Biological Effects of Sweeteners Explored

With growing concern that excessive levels of fructose may pose a great health risk – causing high blood pressure, kidney disease and diabetes – researchers at the University of Colorado (Colorado, USA), along with their colleagues at the University of Florida (Florida, USA), assessed how high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and table sugar (sucrose) are metabolized by the body.  The team evaluated 40 men and women who were given 24 ounces of HFCS- or sugar-sweetened soft drinks. HFCS sweetened soft drinks resulted in significantly higher fructose levels than the sugar-sweetened drinks. Fructose is also known to increase uric acid levels that have been implicated in blood pressure, and the HFCS-sweetened drinks also resulted in a higher uric acid level and a 3 mm Hg greater rise in systolic blood pressure.   The researchers determined that the makeup of the sugars resulted in differences in how much fructose was absorbed into the circulation.  Sucrose is 50% fructose and 50% glucose that is bonded together as a disaccharide (complex carbohydrate) and HFCS is a mixture of free fructose (55%) and free glucose (45%). Concluding that: “Compared with sucrose, [high fructose corn syrup] leads to greater fructose systemic exposure and significantly different acute metabolic effects,” the team speculates that the difference in fructose amount may be responsible for exerting ill health effects on the body.