Endocrine and metabolic effects of consuming beverages sweetened with fructose, glucose, sucrose, or high-fructose corn syrup

Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Dec;88(6):1733S-1737S. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2008.25825D.

Abstract

Our laboratory has investigated 2 hypotheses regarding the effects of fructose consumption: 1) the endocrine effects of fructose consumption favor a positive energy balance, and 2) fructose consumption promotes the development of an atherogenic lipid profile. In previous short- and long-term studies, we showed that consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages with 3 meals results in lower 24-h plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and leptin in humans than does consumption of glucose-sweetened beverages. We have also tested whether prolonged consumption of high-fructose diets leads to increased caloric intake or decreased energy expenditure, thereby contributing to weight gain and obesity. Results from a study conducted in rhesus monkeys produced equivocal results. Carefully controlled and adequately powered long-term studies are needed to address these hypotheses. In both short- and long-term studies, we showed that consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages substantially increases postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations compared with glucose-sweetened beverages. In the long-term studies, apolipoprotein B concentrations were also increased in subjects consuming fructose, but not in those consuming glucose. Data from a short-term study comparing consumption of beverages sweetened with fructose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, and sucrose suggest that high-fructose corn syrup and sucrose increase postprandial triacylglycerol to an extent comparable with that induced by 100% fructose alone. Increased consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages along with increased prevalence of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes underscore the importance of investigating the metabolic consequences of fructose consumption in carefully controlled experiments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Beverages*
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Dietary Sucrose / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Sucrose / metabolism
  • Energy Intake / drug effects*
  • Energy Intake / physiology
  • Energy Metabolism / drug effects*
  • Energy Metabolism / physiology
  • Fructose / administration & dosage*
  • Fructose / metabolism
  • Glucose / administration & dosage
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Leptin / blood
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects*
  • Lipid Metabolism / physiology
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Sweetening Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Sweetening Agents / metabolism
  • Weight Gain / drug effects

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Dietary Sucrose
  • Insulin
  • Leptin
  • Sweetening Agents
  • Fructose
  • Glucose