From the Guidelines
High fructose corn syrup should be limited in the diet due to its potential negative health effects, including increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as supported by recent studies such as 1. The most recent and highest quality study, 1, published in 2023, highlights the significant health risks associated with sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption, which often contains high fructose corn syrup. Key points to consider:
- High fructose corn syrup is commonly found in processed foods and beverages like sodas, fruit drinks, candies, cereals, and baked goods.
- Regular consumption of high fructose corn syrup has been associated with increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as noted in studies such as 1 and 1.
- Fructose is metabolized differently than other sugars, primarily in the liver, and can lead to increased fat production and insulin resistance when consumed in large amounts.
- While high fructose corn syrup isn't necessarily worse than regular sugar, its widespread use in processed foods means many people consume it in excessive quantities without realizing it.
- To reduce intake, it is recommended to focus on whole foods, read nutrition labels carefully, and choose water or unsweetened beverages instead of sweetened drinks.
- The 2023 study 1 emphasizes that consuming one sugar-sweetened beverage per day increases the risk of type 2 diabetes by about 20%, and this risk is even greater among those who consume more than one SSB per day. Overall, limiting high fructose corn syrup in the diet is crucial for reducing the risk of various health problems and improving overall health outcomes, as supported by the most recent and highest quality evidence 1.
From the Research
High Fructose Corn Syrup and Chromium
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies that discusses high fructose corn syrup.
- However, the studies do discuss the effects of chromium on glucose metabolism and insulin resistance, which can be related to the consumption of high fructose corn syrup.
- Chromium has been shown to have a beneficial role in the regulation of insulin action and its effects on carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism 2.
- Chromium picolinate, in particular, has been shown to reduce insulin resistance and improve glucose metabolism in individuals with type 2 diabetes 3, 4.
Chromium and Glucose Metabolism
- Chromium picolinate has been shown to improve glucose metabolism in individuals with type 2 diabetes by reducing blood glucose and insulin levels 3, 4.
- Chromium picolinate has also been shown to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease 2, 3.
- However, one study found that chromium picolinate did not improve key features of metabolic syndrome in obese non-diabetic adults 5.
Chromium and Cholesterol Homeostasis
- Chromium picolinate has been shown to positively influence the glucose transporter system via affecting cholesterol homeostasis in adipocytes cultured under hyperglycemic diabetic conditions 6.
- Chromium picolinate has been shown to induce a loss of plasma membrane cholesterol and increase the accumulation of intracellularly sequestered glucose transporter GLUT4 at the plasma membrane 6.