Insulin-Mediated Glucose Metabolism: An Atherogenic Lipid Profile of Fructose Consumption

Our laboratory has investigated two hypotheses regarding the effects of fructose consumption: 1) The endocrine effects of fructose consumption favor a positive energy balance, and 2) Fructose consumption promotes the development of an atherogenic lipid profile. In previous short- and long-term studies, we demonstrated that consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages with 3 meals results in lower 24-hour plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, and leptin in humans compared with consumption of glucose-sweetened beverages. We have also tested whether prolonged consumption of high-fructose diets could lead to increased caloric intake or decreased energy expenditure, thereby contributing to weight gain and obesity. Results from a study conducted in rhesus monkeys produced equivocal results. Carefully controlled and adequately powered long-term studies are needed to address these hypotheses. In both short- and long-term studies we demonstrated that consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages substantially increases postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations compared with glucose-sweetened beverages. In the long-term studies, apolipoproteinB concentrations were also increased in subjects consuming fructose, but not those consuming glucose. Data from a short-term study comparing consumption of beverages sweetened with fructose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and sucrose, suggest that HFCS and sucrose increase postprandial triacylglycerol to an extent comparable to that induced by 100% fructose alone. Increased consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages along with increased prevalence of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes underscore the importance of investigating the metabolic consequences fructose consumption in carefully controlled experiments.