Added fructose causes type 2 diabetes
Recent research shows that added sugars, especially ones with fructose, are a major risk factor of diabetes. Clinical scientists believe that current dietary guidelines allowing up to 25% of daily total calories from sugars should be changed, especially because added fructose causes type 2 diabetes
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 29.1 million people in the U.S. suffer from diabetes, which is 9.3 percent of the population.
Research shows added fructose causes type 2 diabetes
“At current levels, added-sugar consumption, and added-fructose consumption in particular, are fueling a worsening epidemic of type 2 diabetes,” said lead author James J. DiNicolantonio, PharmD, a cardiovascular research scientist at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO. “Approximately 40% of U.S. adults already have some degree of insulin resistance with projections that nearly the same percentage will eventually develop frank diabetes.”
Other sugars that don’t contain fructose seem to have less detrimental effects. Many clinical studies have shown that fructose leads to increases in fasting insulin, fasting glucose, and the insulin/glucose responses to a sucrose load. “This suggests that sucrose (in particular the fructose component) is more harmful compared to other carbohydrates,” added Dr. DiNicolantonio.
Data from recent clinical trials shows that replacing glucose-only starch with fructose causes detrimental metabolic effects.
“The totality of the evidence is compelling to suggest that added sugar, and especially added fructose (usually in the form of high-fructose corn syrup and table sugar), are a serious and growing public health problem,” the authors write.
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans state that it is okay to consume up to 19 percent of daily calories from added sugars, and the Institute of Medicine permits 25 percent.
On the other hand, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends no more than 10 percent added sugars. WHO goes even further stating that no more than 5 percent added sugars per day promotes optimal health. The authors of the study would agree more with WHO’s guidelines.
Although fructose is found in many fruits and vegetables, these foods do not pose health risks. Instead, eating fruits and vegetables may actually help reduce risk of diabetes. The authors believe that dietary guidelines should recommend fruits and vegetables instead of processed foods with added fructose. “Most existing guidelines fall short of this mark at the potential cost of worsening rates of diabetes and related cardiovascular and other consequences,” the authors wrote.
The study authors also believe that there should be incentives for the food industry to reduce added sugar levels. “Limiting consumption of foods and beverages that contain added sugars, particularly added fructose, may be one of the single most effective strategies for ensuring one’s robust future health,” the authors conclude.
This study showing added fructose causes type 2 diabetes was published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings.
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REFERENCES:
1. “Added Fructose Is a Principal Driver of Type 2 Diabetes.” EurekAlert! Elsevier Health Sciences, 29 Jan. 2015. Web. 02 Feb. 2015.
2. “Added Fructose: A Principal Driver of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Its Consequences.” Mayo Clinic Proceedings. Mayo Clinic, n.d. Web. 2 Feb. 2015.
3. “2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 24 Oct. 2014. Web. 01 Feb. 2015.
4. “Dietary Guidelines for Americans.” Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2015.
