Is High Fructose Corn Syrup linked to Obesity & Chronic Disease?

What is HFCS?In a review article published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers reviewed the historical use of fructose and suggested that through a variety of sweeteners, the intake of fructose has gradually increased. This increase may be associated with an increase in hypertension, obesity, metabolic syndrome and kidney disease. More specifically, sweeteners containing fructose may be responsible for increasing the body’s uric acid production and may induce cardiorenal disease.[4]One study reported that a higher intake of fructose in overweight school-aged children was associated with smaller low-density lipoproteins and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.[5]

In a larger study, researchers collected soft drink consumption data from 6,039 person-observations among those who participated in the Framingham Heart Study. Researchers concluded that middle-aged study participants who consumed 1 or more 12-oz. soda a day had a higher prevalence of multiple metabolic risk factors.[6]
 

 

And just last month, a small study reported on the effect of these sweeteners on fatty acid synthesis in adults. Researchers discovered that when fructose was consumed, lipogenesis was two-fold greater than when glucose was consumed.[7]

One researcher pointed out that the blame for obesity shifts every 10 years but the real link is to low-cost foods such as refined grains, added sugars, and added fats. These foods are reasonably priced, taste good, and are readily available in low income areas or areas where obesity levels are high. Stated another way, low-cost foods that are high in macronutrients but low in micronutrients are consumed by the low-income population and this consumption pattern may be a predictor of obesity.[8]

The Corn Refiners Association has responded to those who suspect a link between HFCS and obesity by establishing a web site that addresses these concerns. One of the organization’s main premises is that HFCS is similar to other sweeteners and research continues to confirm this. Statements on their site reminds readers that the cause of obesity is not related to one single cause such as the consumption of fructose, but a primary cause is too many calories and not enough physical activity. In addition, HFCS consumption has declined but obesity is still on the rise.[9]
 

 

The industry organization, International Food Information Council (IFIC), has published a 20-page document defining and evaluated the role of sweeteners in the diet. This document concludes that sugars, whether it is fructose or HFCS, are not linked to life threatening diseases. However, there may be indirect relationships to obesity.[10]

The American Dietetic Association reports in its HFCS Fact Sheet that rather than pointing the finger at HFCS, the obesity problem might fall on the trend of increased calorie intake over the past fifty years. Extra calories from drinks and processed foods may be one of the primary causes of obesity. This document further points out that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that HFCS alters metabolism so that it promotes the distribution of excess body fat or causes a greater food intake.[11]

Because of these and many other studies beyond the scope of this article, should health practitioners conclude that additional studies need to be conducted to further understand the relationship between health and sweeteners?
If so, how do nutritionists counsel patients and clients about the consumption of HFCS? Should they caution consumers to minimize or avoid HFCS to reduce obesity or wait until further evidence is reported? Or, should practitioners say nothing until the evidence surfaces? Simply put, should we stand idily by while millions of Americans become more sick, more obese?
One last note on the subject: There is a quote that is appropriate to consider as the search for the causes of obesity continue: “No individual raindrop ever considers itself responsible for the flood.”[12] Somehow the causes must come to the surface before the problem of obesity can be fixed.
 

 

[1]

High-fructose corn syrup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-fructose_corn_syrup

[2]

Wells HF & Buzby JC. High-Fructose Corn Syrup usage may be leveling off. Amber Waves.

http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/Februar…ighFructose.htm

. Accessed 6/29/2008.

[3]

Bray GA, et al. Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004;79:537-43.

[4]

Johnson RJ, et al. Potential role of sugar (fructose) in the epidemic of hypertension, obesity and the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;86:899-906.

[5]

Aeberli I, et al. Fructose intake is a predictor of LDL particle size in overweight schoolchildren: Abstract. Epidemiologic Reviews. 2007.

[6]

Dhingra R., et al. Soft drink consumption and risk of developing cardiometabolic risk factors and the metabolic syndrome in middle-aged adults in the community. Circulation. 2007;116:480-488; originally published online 07/23/2007. Accessed 05/02/08.

[7]

Parks EJ, et al. Dietary sugars stimulate fatty acid synthesis in adults. J. Nutr. 2008;138:1039-1046.

[8]

Drewnowski A. The real contribution of added sugars and fats to obesity. Epidemiologic Reviews., doi:10.1093/epirev/mxm011. Accessed 6/24/07.

[9]

The facts about high fructose corn syrup.

http://www.hfcsfacts.com/SugarFixStatement.html

. Accessed 06/29/08

[10]

The Science of Sugars.

http://www.ific.org/publications/reviews/u…e_of_Sugars.pdf

. Accessed 06/29/08.

[11]

High Fructose Corn Syrup. Nutrition Fact Sheet.

http://www.earight.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs…83_ENU_HTML.htm

. Accessed 06/29/08.

“High fructose corn syrup,” (HFCS) is a phrase that has been introduced to the U.S. population through the label on some of their favorite foods or through the media. However, few know what HFCS is but many continue to consume i in the form of processed foods and drinks. Researchers and popular reports have linked obesity and chronic diseases to the consumption of HFCS but is it connected?

Trying to sort though the research and other literature discussing high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) can be overwhelming. In the past few years, HFCS has been reviewed in experimental and observational data and it appears that there is support for both sides of the debate.

History

HFCS was developed by Richard O. Marshall and Earl R Kooi in 1957 and was refined in the 1970s in Japan.

References

[1] This made it possible to introduce this product to the U.S. market around this time and its use has been in a steady incline until 1999. From 1970 until 1999, HFCS consumption rose to 63.7 pounds per person. Since then it has declined and in 2005, about 59 pounds per person was consumed.[2]

The decline may be due to an increase of bottled water and diet soda consumption but it also may be due to studies that continually evaluate the relationship between fructose and/or HFCS and obesity.

The process in making HFCS starts with milling corn to make corn starch. Corn starch is processed to create corn syrup, which is mainly glucose. Enzymes are then added to produce fructose. This syrup is approximately 90% fructose and is called, HFCS 90. This syrup is then mixed with 100% glucose corn syrup to make other varieties of what is called high fructose corn syrup. The most common combination of fructose and glucose is 55% fructose and 45% glucose or HFCS 55, which is found in sodas and other processed foods. This ratio is similar to the ratio found in table sugar or sucrose – 50% glucose and 50% fructose. One difference that is often pointed out is that the fructose found in HFCS is in the free form and the form that is found in sucrose is bonded to glucose – a disaccharide.

Why the Controversy?

With the steady increase of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, researchers have closely examined the U.S. diet to help determine the cause of this phenomenon. HFCS has been held in high suspect and in some cases has been linked to obesity. George Bray and colleagues published a paper in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2004. The premise of this paper suggests that HFCS consumption has increased along with the increased incidence of obesity; and because fructose is absorbed and metabolized differently, this difference may play a role in the increase of America’s weight gain.[3]

Other studies have lumped HFCS with sucrose, and other sweeteners that contain fructose and have discussed the role of fructose in the body.

This entry was posted on Friday, July 10th, 2009 at 8:44 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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