Abstract 13066: Effects of Fructose Containing Sugars on Lipids, Blood Pressure and Uric Acid When Consumed at Up to 90th Percentile Population Consumption Levels

Abstract

Introduction: The American Heart Association (AHA) recommended that women and men not consume more than 100 or 150 kcal/day, respectively, from added sugars. Sucrose and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) have been singled out for particular concern because of their fructose content, which has been specifically implicated for its atherogenic potential and possible role in elevating blood pressure through uric acid mediated endothelial dysfunction. Few data exist on longer term effects when these sugars are consumed at typical population levels.

Methods: 352 overweight or obese individuals aged 20-60 years old were placed on a eucaloric diet for 10 weeks which incorporated sucrose or HFCS sweetened, low fat milk at 8%, 18% or 30% of calories (25th, 50th or 90th percentile of adult fructose consumption levels). A subset of participants (n=101) underwent a one-night stay in the metabolic unit, while consuming a calorie and macronutrient controlled diet containing sugars in the amount described above. Lipids, SBP,DBP and uric acid were measured every two hours for 24 hours and uric acid Area Under the Curve (AUC) calculated.

Results: There was a slight change in body weight in the entire cohort (169.1 ± 30.6 vs 171.6 ± 31.8 lbs, p<0.01), a decrease in HDL (52.9 ± 12.2 vs 52.0 ± 13.9 mg/dl, p<0.05) and an increase in triglycerides (104.1 ± 51.8 vs 114.1 ± 64.7 mg/dl, p<0.001). However, total cholesterol (183.5 ± 42.8 vs 184.4 mg/dl, p>0.05), LDL (110.3 ± 32.0 vs 110.5 ± 38.9 mg/dl, p>0.05), SBP (109.4 ± 10.9 vs 108.3 ± 10.9 mmHg, p>0.05) and DBP (72.1 ± 8.0 vs 71.3 ± 8.0 mmHg, p>0.05) were all unchanged. During the metabolic unit phase, uric acid AUC was also unchanged (105.96 ± 28.98 vs 105.92 ± 28.66 hr*mg/dl; p>0.05). In no instance did the amount or type of sugar consumed affect the response to the intervention (interaction p>0.05).

Conclusions: These data suggest that: 1) when consumed as part of normal diet, common fructose containing sugars do not raise blood pressure even when consumed at the 90th percentile population consumption level for fructose (5 times the level recommended by the AHA), 2) changes in lipid profile are mixed, but modest, and 3) there are no differences between sucrose and HFCS in these parameters at typical levels of sweetener consumption.