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Information on High-Fructose Corn Syrup

High-fructose corn syrup is a derivative of corn. It's processed from cornstarch; the glucose has been converted to fructose. Both glucose and fructose are sugars. Unlike table sugar, in which the sugars are chemically bonded, the sugars are blended in high-fructose corn syrup. The controversy behind high-fructose corn syrup is its effect on the body. Is it better for you than refined sugar? Is it worse? Has it contributed to the expanding waistline of human society? Is it linked to diabetes?

  1. Function

    • High-fructose corn syrup is a sweetener found in packaged products such as cookies, soda, salad dressing and sauces. It's less expensive than refined sugar and is a stable preservative. Invented in the 1960s, high-fructose corn syrup came into the commercial spotlight as an alternative to sugar in the 1970s, when the cost of refined sugar soared. It has since become a fixture of packaged goods.

    Effects

    • Gram for gram, high-fructose corn syrup has the same calories as sugar; excess consumption of either is considered an unhealthy practice. But other properties of this additive are being studied, and these may be linked to diabetes and obesity.

    Obesity

    • A study at the University of Florida in Gainesville demonstrated a link between leptin resistance and consumption of high-fructose corn syrup and other fructose. Leptin is the hormone that controls the body's appetite. Those suffering from obesity show high levels of the hormone; they are resistant to its signals. The study indicated a link between fructose consumption and leptin resistance. Though fructose is found in fruits, the amount is moderate in comparison to the levels found in the additive high-fructose corn syrup. The implication of the study is that the more one consumes of this fructose, the higher the risk of developing leptin resistance, which leads to obesity.

    Diabetes

    • This same condition, leptin resistance, is typically found in those suffering from diabetes. No link between consumption of high-fructose corn syrup and diabetes has been established. The results of the University of Florida study, however, have drawn the interest of researchers studying diabetes and the additive's possible connection to the disease.

    Considerations

    • Is high-fructose corn syrup a bad additive? Is it something that should be banned? Like refined sugar, high-fructose corn syrup is a processed product. And, like sugar, it should be consumed in moderation. High-fructose corn syrup is a low-cost sweetener and a preservative, making it an important additive for packaged foods. Any studies linking ill health to high-fructose corn syrup must consider the quantity consumed. No studies have yet established a firm link between any disease and high-fructose corn syrup specifically. Any links found have also included high intake of other sugar compounds along with the additive.

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