 period, both groups had gained similar amounts of weight, but those consuming fructose-sweetened drinks showed an increase in intra-abdominal fat, the kind that embeds itself between tissues in organs. These individuals also became less sensitive to insulin, the hormone that controls blood sugar, and they had elevated levels of fat in the blood. The fructose group also showed increased fat production in the liver, elevated “bad” cholesterol and larger increases in blood triglycerides. The group drinking glucose-sweetened beverages showed none of these changes.
Americans’ obesity problem started about the same time that high fructose corn syrup came on the market. It is this association that has led some nutritionists to want to study if high fructose corn syrup is metabolized differently than regular sugar. Unfortunately there is not much funding for this type of research and therefore there are not many studies. Also, there are some studies that seem to come to the opposite conclusion, that high fructose corn syrup is no worse than other sugars.
So, what can I recommend, given this controversy? First, it is inconclusive that high fructose corn syrup is inherently unhealthful. However, because it is present in so many foods and essentially all nondiet sodas, it is an important and ever-present source of extra calories. Therefore, you must look at food and drink labels and try to pick the brands that don’t contain high fructose corn syrup.
It is fair to say that our intake of extra calories is a problem and that the increase in high fructose corn syrup consumption is not helping. You should avoid food with added sugar regardless of whether it is table sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
A previous version of this story about high fructose corn syrup needs clarification. Author Joanmarie Pellegrini, M.D., notes that high fructose corn syrup is no sweeter than table sugar and that it originally was marketed in the 1960s but did not come into widespread use until much more recently. More information is available by going to www.wabi.tv and searching under “Healthy Living.”