High-fructose corn syrup is linked to excessive amounts of triglycerides and cholesterol being pumped out of your liver, insulin resistance and the development of fatty liver disease. It's considered a modifiable risk factor for many health conditions. That is, take it out of your diet and you lower your risk of these diseases. The popular sweetener is firmly entrenched in the American diet, however. It's everywhere. The American Medical Association acknowledges the studies that have found adverse health effects from consumption of high-fructose corn syrup. However, the association says that it's so similar to table sugar in the way your body responds to it, now's not the time to cherry-pick which sweeteners you will consume and which you will not. Rather, along with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010, the association recommends that you reduce your intake of all sugars.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup Consumption in the United States
High-fructose corn syrup experienced explosive growth in consumption in the United States between 1970 and 1990, say researchers publishing in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition." Although the late 2000s saw a tapering off of the sweetener's dominance, it's still a ubiquitous substance. About 8 percent of the calories most Americans consume come from high-fructose corn syrup, which is actually a mixture of fructose and glucose. Most get it by consuming sugary drinks like sodas and fruity juices, but it's found in the most unlikely of places from bread and cereal to chips and ketchup.
Fructose Metabolism and Increased Lipid Production
Unlike other sugars, such as glucose, fructose has a separate, independent metabolism process that allows it to directly interact with your liver. Stanhope and colleagues, publishing in the "Journal of Clinical Investigation" say that sustained fructose consumption over time increases the production of lipids like triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, which can lead to an increased risk for health problems like diabetes and heart disease.
Insulin Resistance
A study conducted on mice and published in the May 2009 "Cell Metabolism" helped shed light on how diets loaded with high-fructose corn syrup may cause insulin resistance. Fructose's stimulation of blood lipids have an impact on energy metabolism and insulin sensitivity, but how and why that was the case wasn't well understood until the "Cell Metabolism" researchers uncovered a gene that interacts with other genes responsible for the liver and fat cells. When that gene was blocked in mice being fed a high-fructose diet, the mice were protected from insulin resistance. Insulin stimulates the liver to perform several functions, including storing blood sugar for energy, and when enough has been stored, additional blood sugar gets sent toward the fatty acid production functions of the liver. Much like what happened with heart disease and saturated fat is playing out with high-fructose corn syrup and the liver. The "Cell Metabolism" authors conclude that the foods you eat containing high-fructose corn syrup are playing a role in the development of disease.
Fatty Liver Disease
High-fructose corn syrup may be linked to the development and the worsening of fatty liver disease. In two studies, published in the journals "Hepatology" and the "Journal of Hepatology," researchers found that people with a fatty liver condition consume higher levels of fructose than people without fatty liver. In the "Journal of Hepatology," researchers determined that the pathogenic mechanism that starts nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has a lot to do with "excessive dietary fructose consumption." The "Hepatology" authors are a group of researchers associated with the Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Clinical Research Network. They said fructose prompts metabolic disturbances that are toxic to your liver. The researchers estimated the fructose consumption of 427 adults based on their reported intake of Kool-aid, fruit juices and soda. Those who consumed more fructose had more features of advanced fatty liver disease, including inflammation and scarring of the organ, excess triglycerides and bad cholesterol, decreased blood glucose and higher levels of uric acid. Those same people tended to consume more calories too. Both groups concluded getting rid of fructose is a way to modify your risk of fatty liver disease.
References
- "Hepatology"; Increased Fructose Consumption is Associated with Fibrosis Severity in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Manal F. Abdelmalek et al.; June 2010
- "Journal of Hepatology"; Fructose Consumption as a Risk Factor for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Xiaosen Ouyang et al.; June 2008
- "Hepatology"; High-Fructose, Medium Chain Trans Fat Diet Induces Liver Fibrosis And Elevates Plasma Coenzyme Q9 in a Novel Murine Model of Obesity and Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis; Rohit Kohli et al.; June 2010
- "Cell Metabolism"; A Sweet Path to Insulin Resistance Through PGC-1b; Carlos Hernandez and Jiandie D. Lin; March 4, 2009
- "Science Daily"; High Levels of Fructose, Trans Fats Lead to Significant Liver Disease, Says Study; June 23, 2010
- "Journal of Clinical Investigation"' Consuming Fructose-Sweetened, Not Glucose-Sweetened, Beverages Increases Visceral Adiposity and Lipids and Decreases Insulin Sensitivity in Overweight/Obese Humans; Kimber L. Stanhope et al.; May 2009
Member Comments