High-fructose corn syrup, or HFCS, is an artificial sweetener used to replace sugar in foods and drinks. It is derived from corn in the form of syrup and undergoes enzymatic processes that result in a variety of simple sugars, says Marcelle Pick, nurse practitioner and co-founder of the Women to Women Clinic in Yarmouth, Maine. This manipulated fructose sugar is surrounded by controversies regarding its safety and its effects on health.
Weight Gain and Heart Disease
Different types of sweeteners may have effects on weight gain and the development of heart disease. Princeton University researchers studied the effects of HFCS on rats and found that rats with access to the HFCS gained more weight than rats who consumed table sugar, even when daily caloric intake was similar. Long-term consumption of the HFCS also led to increases in body fat and higher levels of triglycerides. Researchers at the University of California-Davis found that individuals who drank beverages containing HFCS had higher levels of the bad cholesterol called low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, and higher levels of triglycerides than those who drank sucrose-sweetened beverages. Both LDL and high triglycerides are associated with the development of heart disease.
Diabetes
Consumption of HFCS may contribute to the development of diabetes. According to Science Daily, Dr. Chi-Tang Ho, a professor of food science at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, led a study on commonly consumed sodas and found that the drinks with the HFCS had higher amounts of compounds shown to damage cells and trigger diabetes. Jeannette Jordan, a registered dietitian at Diabetic Living, notes that HFCS adds calories to many prepared foods, and a diet full of foods containing the sweetener may lead to weight gain, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Liver Problems
High-fructose corn syrup may be damaging to the liver. According to Science Daily, a study done at Duke University showed that humans who consumed more HFCS than other individuals in the study had more scarring of the liver, called fibrosis. The study was performed on adults with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which is present in 30 percent of Americans. More studies need to be performed to gain further insight into the link between HFCS and liver problems.
References
- Princeton University: A sweet problem: Princeton researchers find that high-fructose corn syrup prompts considerably more weight gain
- Science Daily: Soda warning? High-fructose corn syrup linked to diabetes, new study suggests
- Science Daily: High fructose corn syrup linked to liver scarring, research suggests
- The Journal of Clinical Investigation: Consuming fructose-sweetened, not glucose-sweetened, beverages increases visceral adiposity and lipids and decreases insulin sensitivity in overweight/obese humans
- Diabetic Living: High-Fructose Corn Syrup and Diabetes
- Women to Women: High-fructose corn syrup
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