Page 50 - Spring2009

OTHER CONCERNS ABOUT HFCS

24
‡ 5HVHDUFK LQGLFDWHV WKDW IUHH UHILQHG IUXFWRVH LQWHUIHUHV patients with high blood pressure. Elevated uric acid
with the heart’s use of key minerals, like magnesium, may be a risk factor in coronary disease. This may ex-
copper and chromium. In humans, fructose feeding plain the findings of a recent study published in British
leads to mineral losses, especially higher fecal excretions Medical Journal linking fructose to gout. Cases of gout
25
of iron and magnesium, than do subjects fed sucrose. have risen in recent years, despite the fact that gout is
Iron, magnesium, calcium, and zinc balances tended to commonly considered a Victorian disease. The suspect
be more negative during the fructose-feeding period is fructose found in soft drinks and other sweetened
as compared to balances during the sucrose-feeding drinks. 26
period. 15 ‡ 6WXGLHV RQ WKH 0DLOODUG UHDFWLRQ LQGLFDWH WKDW IUXFWRVH
‡ %HFDXVH IUXFWRVH FRPSHWHV ZLWK JOXFRVH DQG JDODF- may contribute to diabetic complications more read-
tose for absorption, excess fructose can be carried to ily than glucose. The Maillard reaction is a browning
the lower intestine where it provides nutrients for the reaction that occurs when compounds are exposed to
existing gut flora, which produce gas. It may also cause various sugars. Fructose browns food seven times faster
water retention in the intestine. These effects may lead than glucose, resulting in a decrease in protein quality
to bloating, excessive flatulence, loose stools, and even and a toxicity of protein in the body. This is due to
27
diarrhea depending on the amounts the loss of amino acid residues and
eaten and other factors. 16 decreased protein digestibility. Mail-
‡ $OO IUXFWRVH PXVW EH PHWDEROL]HG LQ lard products can inhibit the uptake
the liver. The livers of test animals and metabolism of free amino acids
fed large amounts of fructose de- and other nutrients such as zinc, and
velop fatty deposits and cirrhosis, some advanced Maillard products
similar to problems that develop in have mutagenic and/or carcinogenic
the livers of alcoholics. Excessive properties. The Maillard reactions be-
17
fructose consumption is also believed tween proteins and fructose, glucose,
to contribute to the development of and other sugars may play a role in ag-
non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. 18 ing and in some clinical complications
‡ )UXFWRVH LV D UHGXFLQJ VXJDU DV DUH DOO of diabetes. 28
monosaccharides. The spontaneous ‡ ,Q VWXGLHV ZLWK UDWV IUXFWRVH
chemical reaction of simple sugar consistently produces higher kidney
molecules to proteins, known as gly- calcium concentrations than glucose.
cation, is thought to be a significant Fructose generally induces greater
cause of damage in diabetics and an urinary concentrations of phosphorus
important contribution to senescence and magnesium and lowered urinary
and many age-related chronic diseas- pH compared with glucose. 29
es. In one study, glycated products ‡ 7KHUH LV VLJQLILFDQW HYLGHQFH WKDW
19
were significantly higher in fructose-fed rats compared high-sucrose diets may alter intracellular metabolism,
with the other sugar-fed and control rats. 20 which in turn facilitates accelerated aging through
‡ $OWKRXJK WKH ERG\ GRHV QRW UHTXLUH LQVXOLQ WR DVVLPLODWH oxidative damage. Scientists found that the rats given
fructose, some studies indicate impaired insulin action fructose had more undesirable cross-linking changes
in the liver and peripheral tissues after longterm feeding. in the collagen of their skin than in the other groups.
Fructose reduces the affinity of insulin for its receptor, These changes are also thought to be markers for aging.
which is the hallmark of type-2 diabetes. This is the first The scientists say that it is the fructose molecule in the
step for glucose to enter a cell. As a result, the body needs sucrose, not the glucose, that plays the larger part. 30
to pump out more insulin to handle the same amount of ‡ 5HVHDUFKHUV IRXQG WKDW UDWV IHG D KLJK FDORULH GLHW
glucose. 21 supplemented with high-fructose corn syrup for eight
‡ )UXFWRVH LQJHVWLRQ DFXWHO\ HOHYDWHV EORRG SUHVVXUH LQ months exhibited impaired spatial learning ability and
healthy young humans. 22 reduced function of the hippocampus, thus impairing
‡ )UXFWRVH FRQVXPSWLRQ OHDGV WR PRUH ODFWLF DFLG IRUPD- cognitive function. 31
tion compared to glucose. Extreme elevations cause ‡ )UXFWRVH LQWDNH LV DVVRFLDWHG ZLWK VPDOO /'/ SDUWLFOH VL]H
metabolic acidosis, even leading to death. 23 in overweight schoolchildren. Small LDL is associated
‡ $ QXPEHU RI VWXGLHV UHSRUW HOHYDWLRQV LQ SODVPD XULF with higher rates of heart disease. 32
acid after dietary consumption of fructose, especially in

48 Wise Traditions SPRING 2009