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Swapping Sucrose for Fructose in the Diet

Researchers determine the effects of replacing fructose in the diet on blood sugar levels, insulin, and triglyceride concentrations.

When you think about eating healthier, what do you think about limiting in your diet? Sugar? Carbohydrates? Both? Over the years, sugar has gained a bad reputation. The “bad” sugar that usually comes to mind is sucrose, commonly known as table sugar. However, there are other types of sugars: glucose and fructose. Glucose and fructose are referred to as simple sugars because they are made up of single sugar molecules. Joined together, glucose and fructose form sucrose.

Three types of sugars

Our bodies break down sucrose into the simple sugars glucose and fructose. Glucose, our body’s preferred energy source, is often referred to as blood sugar because it circulates in our blood. When we eat, our body breaks down sugar and carbohydrates into glucose for energy. Our bodies can either use glucose immediately or store it in muscle or liver cells in the form of glycogen for later use. Fructose is a sugar naturally found in fruits and vegetables. It differs from the other sugars because our bodies process them differently. Fructose is not our body’s preferred energy source.

Glucose and insulin in diabetics

Our bodies need the hormone insulin so that glucose can be taken up into our cells for energy. Individuals with diabetes either don’t make enough insulin, or their bodies do not respond properly to the insulin that is produced. In some cases, it is a combination of both. In type 1 diabetes, which usually begins in childhood, the body attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, most often affects adults and is characterized by insulin resistance and sometimes low levels of insulin production.

Both types of diabetes impair the body’s ability to take up glucose. Glucose then builds up in the blood. High levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia) can damage blood vessels in the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nervous system. If it is left untreated, diabetes can lead to heart disease, kidney disease and stroke, among other conditions.

What happens when we replace sucrose and glucose with fructose?

Type 2 diabetes is highly influenced by our lifestyle and diet and has a genetic component. Because of this, public health campaigns encourage people to maintain a healthy weight with proper nutrition and regular exercise to prevent type 2 diabetes. Many have considered replacing glucose or sucrose with fructose in food and drinks, but what are the effects of this replacement?

Previous studies have yielded conflicting data on the effects of fructose in diabetic patients. A previous study suggests that fructose might raise triglyceride concentrations higher than glucose or sucrose after meals; this could worsen or contribute to the development of diabetes. No reviews of the current literature have assessed the effects of fructose in those with diabetes and the questions remain:

  1. What are the effects of replacing glucose or sucrose with fructose in those with diabetes?
  2. What are the resulting glucose, insulin, and triglyceride concentrations?

A recent study published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition sought to answer these questions by reviewing the evidence from past studies.

To do so, researchers searched databases for studies that measured the presence of blood glucose after a meal in which glucose, sucrose, or both, had been replaced with fructose in equal amounts. They included randomized controlled trials in healthy adults or children with or without diabetes. They also included studies on lean, overweight, and obese populations. A total of 47 individual studies were included in the final analysis. The researchers combined the findings and performed a meta-analysis using statistical methods to analyze blood glucose, insulin, and triglyceride concentrations after meals.

Potential benefits in prediabetes, diabetes, and obesity 

The researchers found that replacing glucose or sucrose with fructose resulted in significantly lower blood glucose and insulin concentrations after meals, particularly in people with prediabetes and type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Surprisingly, triglyceride concentrations did not significantly increase.

These findings signify the potential benefits of blood sugar control when substituting glucose or sucrose with fructose in equal amounts. Additionally, since previous studies have found that blood glucose control is strongly associated with an increased quality of life, the researchers note that this benefit alone may justify replacement with fructose.

Since overweight individuals were also found to have a greater reduction in blood glucose after meals, it indicates the applicability of replacing fructose for glucose or sucrose in overweight populations.

Significance for medical practitioners

The researchers note that these findings may be helpful for medical and health practitioners who are unsure about recommending sugar replacement to patients with diabetes or those at risk of developing diabetes. They note that medical practitioners should feel assured that the benefits of reducing blood glucose and insulin levels after meals do not come at the expense of raised blood lipid concentrations.

The study concludes that although it may not be possible to completely replace sucrose or glucose with fructose, the replacement could be achieved by replacing sucrose or glucose with fructose in recipes and choosing premade products rather than glucose or sucrose.

Reference

  1. Evans RA, Frese M, Romero J, Cunningham JH, Mills KE. Fructose replacement of glucose or sucrose in food or beverages lowers postprandial glucose and insulin without raising triglycerides: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017;106(2):506-518. doi:10.3945/ajcn.116.145151
Jessica Gelar HBSc
Jessica Gelar HBSc
Jessica has an HBSc from the University of Toronto with a double major in Biology for the Health Sciences and Professional Writing and Communication. She is interested in global and public health and is passionate about bringing the latest research news to the public so that readers can be well-informed when making health-related decisions. As part of the Medical News Bulletin team, Jessica hopes to bridge the gap between scientists and the general public by breaking down scientific jargon into a simple narrative.
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