Study Finds Neither HFCS, Sucrose Increase Liver Fat

SHREWSBURY, Mass.Consuming both high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and sucrose within reasonable daily levels does not increase liver fat in humans, a leading cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), according to a new study published today in the Journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. The findings add to the well-established body of science that high fructose corn syrup and table sugar are metabolically equivalent.

James Rippe, M.D., founder and director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute and professor of biomedical sciences at the University of Central Florida, conducted the study to evaluate the effect of the addition of commonly consumed fructose/glucose containing sugars in the usual diet on liver fat content and intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT). He examined 64 individuals who consumed low-fat milk sweetened with either HFCS or sucrose with the added sugar matching the 25th, 50th and 90th percentile population consumption levels of fructose for 10 weeks. Fat content of the liver was measured utilizing unenhanced CT Imaging and fat content of muscle was assessed by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Results showed fat content of the liver remained unchanged when the six HFCS and sucrose groups were averaged. Fat content in muscle tissue was also unchanged over the 10 weeks when the six HFCS and sucrose groups were averaged.

"The study's results are compelling because this is the first study of its kind to test the effects of HFCS and sucrose on liver fat levels in humans using real world conditions," Rippe said, who received a grant from the Corn Refiners Association (CRA) to conduct the study. "Previous studies that sought to find a link between caloric sweeteners and diseases such as type 2 diabetes and liver disease often subjected individuals to unrealistically high levels of fructose or had subjects consume fructose independent of glucose, which is just not how fructose is consumed in our daily diet. Using real world conditions, we find that HFCS and other caloric sweeteners do not appear to increase liver fat or contribute to insulin resistance."

The two largest sources of fructose in the human diet are sucrose (containing 50% fructose and 50% glucose) and HFCS which is present in the human diet in two forms: HFCS-55 (which consists of 55% fructose, 42% glucose and 3% other carbohydrates) and HFCS-42 (which consists of 42% fructose and 58% glucose).

"This study seems to confirm what physicians, registered dietitians and healthcare associations such as the American Medical Association have been saying for decades," said Dr. Mark Haub, associate professor in the department of nutrition at Kansas State University. "Not only is it safe to consume caloric sweeteners at recommended levels, it is important for consumers to understand that high fructose corn syrup and table sugar have the same amount of calories and studies like this indicate your body metabolizes them about the same."

In 2011, a study published in the Nutrition Journal found people can lose weight while consuming typical amounts of sugar or high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as long as they reduce their caloric intake. The findings also debunked the vilification of high fructose corn syrup in the diet.