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High Fructose Corn Syrup & Uric Acid

Jun 13, 2011 | By Angela Ogunjimi

A lightening rod for controversy, high-fructose corn syrup is a commonly added sugar that processed food manufacturers use in soft drinks, snack goods, desserts and a host of other food products. The sweetener, however, has the unique ability to raise your uric acid levels, putting you at risk of a host of health problems, according to research published in the December 2010 issue of the "Journal of the American Society of Nephrology." Public health authorities with the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services warn that Americans are consuming too much added sugar. As a diet category, added sugar comprises 16 percent of all the calories the average American consumes, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, which recommend that you consume less high-fructose corn syrup and other added sugars. Enough scientific evidence suggests that your health will thank you if you do.

Facts about High-Fructose Corn Syrup

High-fructose corn syrup was once the darling of the processed food arena. Not only is this omnipresent sweetener just as sweet as regular table sugar, it's much cheaper and it has help preservative qualities. However, it's also come under fire after being linked to a host of health problems. For example, a group of University of California researchers tied it to obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes in a May 2009 "Journal of Clinical Investigation" article. It is linked to metabolic syndrome, hypertension and chronic kidney disease in the study published in December 2010 in the "Journal of the American Society of Nephrology." An article published in the June 2008 issue of the "Journal of Hepatology" notes that high-fructose corn syrup can induce fatty liver disease. The substance starts from corn starch. Then in several steps, manufacturers use enzymes to convert it into a solution containing fructose and glucose. Common formulas call for anywhere from 42 to 90 percent fructose

Uric Acid

Uric acid is waste material your body produces as it breaks down substances known as purines, which are colorless crystal compounds found in food and drinks like anchovies, sardines, scallops, mussels, pig and beef liver, mackerel, beans, peas, beer and wine. Purines are also concentrated in substances like the theobromine in chocolate, as well both baker's and brewer's yeast. Your kidneys must filter purines, which oxidate into uric acid, and pass the substance out your body through urine. Sometimes, you can experience an overproduction of uric acid or inefficient clearing from your system. High uric acid levels are associated with hypertension, heart disease and chronic kidney disease. An excessively high level of uric acid is called hyperuricemia. MedlinePlus reports that it's normal to have a range of 3 to 7 mg/dL in your bloodstream. Your doctor is the best person to tell you about your uric acid levels.

High-Fructose Corn Syrup's Effect on Uric Acid

When your body metabolizes fructose, much of the fructose travels directly to your liver via special transporter. However, a sizable remnant also goes to your kidneys. There, according to an article published in the October 2007 issue of "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," fructose can induce an increase in uric acid. Researchers state that it's this mechanism that links fructose-laden foods and beverages to the epidemics Americans are experiencing in hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. They note that other sugars don't produce this effect on uric acid levels. Uric acid stimulates the release of inflammatory substances, causes oxidative stress in fat cells and stunts the proliferation of cells that line your heart and blood vessels.

Safety

Just 60 g of fructose, about the amount you'd get in two 12 oz. soft drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, was enough to raise the blood pressure of healthy young people according to the December 2010 "Journal of the American Society of Nephrology" article. However, considering the ubiquity of the sweetener, it's likely that most people consumer more than that. The American Heart Association released a study in April 2011 in "Hypertension: Journal of the American Heart Association," in which researchers emphasize that sugar-sweetened beverages especially need to be significantly limited. As a general rule of thumb, the AHA recommends women get no more than 100 calories daily from added sugars such as high-fructose corn syrup. Considering it's a carbohydrate with 4 calories per gram, the recommendation mean no more than 25 g daily. For men, the AHA recommends no more than 150 calories daily.

References

Article reviewed by Mia Paul Last updated on: Jun 13, 2011

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