High Fructose Corn Syrup
In a recent calendar update from Scott at PlantTrees.org, Scott interjected this one-liner:
High-Fructose Corn Syrup, High Fat Diet = Severe Liver Damage http://www.naturalnews.com/022836.html
I emailed a response to him today saying:
Scott,
You would do well to point out some of the other studies that indicate animals fed on high fat diets (sans high-fructose corn syrup) in a sedate lifestyle is also bad for 2 and 4 legged creatures. This recent mania about high-fructose corn syrup doesn’t seem overall helpful for the people or the land. This single product is not solely responsible for the many ills that have been attributed to it. Making it a scapegoat misdirects where the critisism should really lie. The real reasons for poor health are nearly as easily understood.Here are some articles about fat-sans-high-fructose corn syrup that I am referring to:
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=62967-liver-fat-sugar
http://www.diet-blog.com/archives/2008/02/25/do_fast_food_binges_lead_to_liver_damage.php
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071101144851.htm
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/112228929/ABSTRACT?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0Thanks and have a great day,
Lee Sonko
http://lee.org
Hi Lee,
I’m afraid I don’t understand your criticism. Perhaps you are obliquely referring to other criticism of high-fructose corn syrup besides this study. High fructose corn syrup is essentially sugar; it’s not cane sugar, but it is a form of sugar. And sugar’s role in these recent “fast-food diet” studies is undeniable. Indeed, at least two of the four alternate sources that you supply (I couldn’t read the last one) are high fat, high sugar diets, and they indicate that the sugar plays more of a role than the fat. I quote from the discussion section of the study linked to by your diet-blog.com link.
http://press.psprings.co.uk/gut/february/gt131797.pdf
“Indeed, when examining the relationship of the increase in ALT [an indicator of liver disease, -D..] to intake of different nutrients, fat intake was unrelated to increase in ALT while sugar and carbohydrate intake at week 3 clearly related to the ALT increase. This is in accordance with earlier findings by Solga et al who demonstrated that higher carbohydrate intake was significantly associated with an increased risk of biopsy-proven hepatic inflammation in morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery.”
Since high-fructose corn syrup is essentially sugar, I cannot imagine that you could be arguing against its undeniably negative role in the type of diet these studies are analyzing.
Are you instead saying that high-fructose is no worse than any other type of sugar? If so, what are your reasons for this opinion? If not, that what *are* you saying?
-Derek..
Sorry if I was unclear, I should probably clarify this with Scott as well..
Yes, in general, I’m saying that high-fructose corn syrup is no worse than any other type of sugar.
To explain a tiny bit more about me saying “The real reasons for poor health are nearly as easily understood.”… fruits, vegetables, grains, moderation, a variety of foods, and an active lifestyle will help you live healthier than a diet of concentrated sugars, fats and a sedentary lifestyle.