A Low Fructose Diet May Speed Weight Loss
Fructose and high-fructose corn syrup is found in many foods, particularly processed foods. Fructose can also be derived from eating sugar which is a combination of glucose and fructose. It is essentially a sweetening agent and is found in many products that claim to be “sugar-free”. Fructose is 1.73x sweeter than sugar thus the reason for its use in many commercial items. Fructose is also found in varying amounts in fruit and fruit juices. High fructose corn syrup has become the preferred sweetener in processed foods because of its degree of sweetness, its cost and its ease of use.
Current health guidelines suggest that limiting processed carbohydrates, including those containing high-fructose corn syrup, may help prevent weight gain. New research supports this recommendation.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center think that people on low carbohydrate diets lose weight because of the limited amount of fructose in their diets.
For the study, six healthy individuals were assigned to 3 different test groups. The tests were random, blinded and the subjects ate a regular lunch 4 hours after a test drink was given. Test group one received a drink that was 100% glucose, the second group received a drink that was half glucose and half fructose and then the third group was given 25% glucose and 75% fructose.
The researchers found that lipogenesis (how the body turns sugars into fat) increased significantly when even a portion of the glucose was replaced with fructose. Fructose given at breakfast also changed the way the body handled the food at lunch increasing the storage of fats that could have been used for other purposes.
Dr Parks stated “the message from this study is powerful because body fat synthesis was measured immediately after the sweet drinks were consumed,” according to the lead researcher.
As a result, also, when the next meal was eaten more fat was stored than should have been burned.
Because the subjects were all healthy, this study is an underestimation of the effect of fructose. Fat synthesis may be actually worse in those with an impairment in health, chronic disease or already overweight/obese.
The study researchers concluded that while fructose is a contributor towards obesity, it is not the main cause of obesity as there are many other factors that contribute toward this problem. However, eliminating fructose from the diet would be one positive step towards weight control according to this study.
About the author
Kathy Shattler received her Master of Science degree from Michigan State University in E. Lansing Michigan in Human Nutrition. Her twenty-two years of practice includes holding positions as a Lecturer, Chief Clinical Dietitian and Program Manager. Kathy is the Founder of Nutri-Care Consulting and is currently the Nutrition Director of www.CEU4U.COM, an online continuing education management company for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians.
