Fallacies about fructose-containing sugars and their effect on health

This month’s featured paper is from Nutrition Research Reviews and is entitled ‘Misconceptions about fructose-containing sugars and their role in the obesity epidemic’ In the past years, both scientific literature and other media have dispersed numerous misconceptions about the relation between specific food components and negative health outcomes. Sugar, for example, has often been suggested to be toxic and is scapegoated for its role in the increased obesity rates. Overconsumption of sugar is not the only cause of obesity, however, merely one of several causes. By disseminating common fallacies about fructose-containing sugars and their effect on metabolism and health, public health officials can take appropriate steps based on fact rather than fiction. Results of the literature reviewIn the study, the literature on the relationship between sugar consumption and obesity was reviewed, with a specific focus on the role of fructose and sugar-sweetened beverages. Often in the form of sucrose, sugar is a substantial part of the Western diet. The increased consumption of these and other sugars, including high-fructose corn syrup, corresponds with weight gain. As a result, it was assumed that there was a causal relationship between the intake of fructose and the obesity epidemic. However, the existing research results were often misinterpreted and, as such, serious misconceptions exist about fructose and fructose-containing sugars. As it happens, high-fructose corn syrup is ...
Source: The Nutrition Society - Category: Nutrition Authors: Source Type: news