Does sweetening a product with fructose as compared to glucose make much of a difference? Or is a sugar calorie just a sugar calorie?

Previously there has been a post on this blog Fructose messes with appetite control. Now there is a study that suggests that consuming fructose may be worse for you than glucose.

A new study gave overweight volunteers either fructose-sweetened drinks or glucose-sweetened drinks for 10 weeks. The amount fructose or glucose in the drinks represented a quarter of their energy requirements.

Both groups gained weight, but those that were drinking fructose had several changes that were worse than those drinking glucose.

Those that got the fructose-sweetened drinks put on more belly fat than those that got the fructose-sweetened drinks.

There was an increase in the levels LDL particles (bad cholesterol), including small dense LDL particles, which are the worst type of these bad cholesterol particles, as well as a few other types of lipid particles, except triglycerides.

Additionally, the consumers of the fructose-sweetened drinks had increased fasting glucose, higher levels or insulin and were less insulin sensitive. High fasting glucose and being less insulin sensitive (insulin resistant) are hallmarks of the development of diabetes.

This study suggests that in those that are overweight, that eating or drinking much fructose may increase belly size (see the post Chronic inflammation results from belly (visceral) fat for information about why belly fat is bad), give a worse blood lipid profile and increase the risk of developing diabetes.

Though this is a small study, did not look at anybody who was not overweight, and was only for 10 weeks long, the fact that there were changes in 10 weeks make you think.

The bottom line is that eating and drinking less fructose-containing products is probably a good idea. There is not really any negative impact of consuming less fructose, and there may be a positive impact on health.

photo credit: alan.stoddard

[tags]fructose, glucose, belly fat, lipids, LDL, insulin sensitivity, fasting glucose[/tags]