A summary of a review on high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The sugars found in HFCS, are the same ones found in honey and table sugar, but in different ratios. HFCS takes the brunt of the criticism, but I'd argue it has more to do with the food it is found in, and the culture associated with those foods, and not the sugar itself. Moderation should be taken toward the addition of any form of sugar.

1. High-Fructose Corn Syrup:
Not What You Think
March 2015
This newsletter is based on a review by Rippe et al titled,
Sucrose, High-Fructose Corn Syrup, and Fructose, Their
Metabolism and Potential Health: What Do We Really
Know?1
Zachary Zimmerman
1
What is high-fructose
corn syrup (HFCS)?
High-fructose corn syrup is a
type of carbohydrate
(CHO), called such because
it is made up of chains of
carbon, hydrogen, and
oxygen. HFCS in particular is
made up of two sugars:
glucose and fructose. A few
well-known sources of
glucose and fructose are:
sucrose (or table sugar),
honey, and apples. So
what’s the big deal?
HFCS gets a bad rap
In 2004 the American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN)
put out a publication
suggesting that HFCS in
beverages might play a role
in the rise of obesity in our
2
nation, though the authors
admittedly described it as a
temporal correlation, not
causation.2 Debate ensued
amongst scientists, media,
public, and policy makers,
and all of this, despite the
fact that HFCS contains
roughly the same
percentage of fructose as
sucrose does.
HFCS and obesity
HFCS was classified as
“generally recognized as
safe” by the FDA in 1976. In
1984 it was being used in
soda. Although consumption
of it climbed for following 20-
30 years, for the past 10
years consumption has been
on a decline, while obesity
has either remained steady,
or continued to climb.3 The
article then states,
3
“Furthermore, worldwide
consumption of sucrose is 9
times as much as HFCS, and
there are epidemics of
obesity and diabetes in
areas where little or no HFCS
is available (e.g., Mexico,
Australia, and Europe).”
Further research prompted
the American Medical
Association4 and the
Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics5 to officially state
that there were no
differences between HFCS
and sucrose in their
likelihood of causing obesity.
Despite this, beverage
manufacturers still offer
HFCS-free beverages with
the pitch that these
products are “healthier”.
Fructose VS Glucose

2. 2 lorem ipsum :: [Date]
References
1. Rippe, J., & Angelopoulos, T. (2013). Sucrose, High-Fructose Corn Syrup, and Fructose, Their Metabolism and Potential Health
Effects: What Do We Really Know? Advances In Nutrition: An International Review Journal, 4, 236-245.
2. Rippe. JM. The health implications of sucrose, High-Fructose Corn Syrup, and Fructose, Their Metabolism and Potential Health
Effects: What Do We Really Know? J. Diabetes Technol. 2010;4. Issue 4.
3. Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, Curtin LR. Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2008. JAM. 2010;303:235-
241
4. American Medical Association. Report 3 of the Council on Science and Public Health 2008 (A-08)
5. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Use of nutritive and nonnutritive sweeteners. J Am Diet Assoc. 2004; 104:255-275
6. Tounian P, Schneiter P, Henry S, Delarue J, Tappy L. Effects of dexamethasone on hepatic glucose production and fructose
metabolism in healthy humans. Am J Physiol Endocrinal Metab. 1997;273:E315-20.
Images from:
• Honey: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/10/20/health-benefits-honey.aspx
• Sugar: http://www.seniorlivingresidences.com/ageright/2013/07/08/natural-non-sugar-sweeteners-are-a-boon-for-brain-
health/
• Apple: http://dreamatico.com/apple.html
4
Several studies attempt to
describe the affect either
sugar has on the liver by
isolating each sugar and
observing hepatic response.
While fructose and glucose
are metabolized differently,
neither of these sugars are
isolated in this way in the
diet. Studies found that
isolated glucose increased
blood glucose levels, insulin,
and leptin, and decreasing
ghrelin, while fructose had
none of these effects. Rippe
et al could not duplicate
these studies.
HFCS and Heart
Disease
It has been suggested that
excessive fructose
consumption may contribute
to heart disease, insulin
resistance, type II diabetes,
hypertension, dyslipidemia,
obesity, inflammation and
oxidative stress, but these
findings have not been
confirmed. The American
Heart Association has even
recognized that
recommendations based on
these findings draw from
epidemiologic (comparison)
studies and animal data,
and they acknowledge
there is a need for clinical
5
trials for more substantial
evidence.
HFCS and Metabolic
Syndrome (MS)
Research has been
inconclusive in this regard, as
data were unable to be
replicated. No consensus has
been made on whether
fructose, HFCS, or sucrose
increases risk factors for MS.
The paper did acknowledge
the link between excessive
carbohydrate consumption
and risk for MS.
HFCS and Fatty Liver
Disease
Because it’s well understood
that fructose and glucose
are metabolized differently in
the body, namely that
fructose is metabolized solely
in the liver, it’s suggested
that increased consumption
of fructose could result in fat
build up in the liver and
cause fatty liver disease.
However, only a very small
percent of fructose that
enters the liver is converted
to free fatty acids, while the
majority is converted to
glucose, lactate, glycogen,
and carbon dioxide. The
researchers of this review
6
conducted a study in which
30% of participants’ diets
consisted of either HFCS or
sucrose. In a 10-week study,
there were no signs of
increased liver fat.
Conclusion
4 major points were made:
1. No relationship between
HFCS and obesity
2. No significant metabolic
or endocrine differences
in health-related effects
between HFCS and
sucrose
3. The metabolism and
effects of HFCS and
sucrose are different from
what’s observed when
studies compare pure
isolated HFCS and
sucrose; there is no
synergy.
4. Further studies are
needed to clarify the
affects of fructose on total
cholesterol, LDL, and HDL
as results varied from
study to study.
Finally, the point is made
that caution must be taken
when crediting adverse
health consequences to
fructose, HFCS, or sucrose
because there truly is more
than meets the public eye.