Consuming More Fruits Can be Damaging to Health

Highlights

The type of natural sugars found in fruits and honey is fructose, which is said to be lower in calories.
But a recent study states that low calorie sugars may not decrease the risk of developing long-term health conditions.
The study states that the sugar content present in fruits and fruit juices, is more damaging to health than glucose, even if taken in the same quantity.

The long-term health condition of an individual depends on not only the quantity of sugar consumed but also on the type of sugar.

Previous studies have indicated that simple sugars which are higher in calories can cause many adverse health effects.

Fructose - The Toxic Sugar | Sugar and Obesity
Sugar in terms of caloric value is similar to starch, but in terms of metabolic effects, it is far different. It comes with a special payload.

‘Excess intake of all types of sugars have been found to increase the risk metabolic disorders and heart diseases.’

Tweet it Now

But a recent study by researchers from the University of Barcelona, states that the sugar content present in fruits and fruit juices, fructose, is more damaging to health than glucose, even if taken in the same quantity.

Though fructose is lower in calories, researchers suggest that calorie in sugars may not be the only factor that affects the long-term health.

The type of sugar may also play a role in increasing risk factors for heart disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Fructose-rich Diet Causes Liver Injury
A study in rats found that a fructose-rich diet can cause metabolic abnormalities and liver damage.

Study

Researchers conducted a study to compare the effects of two types of sugars-glucose ad fructose, on metabolic and vascular function.

High Fructose Diet in Pregnancy Increases Obesity Risk in The Child
Consuming high fructose during pregnancy puts the child at future risk for a variety of health conditions including obesity and its complications.

The team conducted the research on 3 groups of rats:

one group was given liquid solution of glucose (the form of sugar found naturally in the body after carbohydrates are broken down)
second group was given fructose ( the sugar found in fruit and fruit juices)
control group that was given plain drinking water

They were given normal solid food in addition to sugar supplementation.

The rats went on receiving the sweetened solutions for eight weeks, roughly equivalent to a person eating large amounts of sugar for six years.

Fructose Does Not Impact Emerging Indicator for Cardiovascular Disease
New research has found that fructose, the sugar often blamed for the obesity epidemic, does not itself have any impact on an emerging marker for the risk of cardiovascular disease known as postprandial triglycerides.

These rats were then compared with a control group which was given just normal water in addition to their regular food intake.

Findings

The findings indicated that in comparison to the glucose group, the rats in the fructose group, had addition to higher weight gain. They also had more markers of vascular disease and liver damage.

These markers were high triglycerides, decreased fat burning in the liver (a factor that can contribute to fatty liver) and impaired relaxation of the aorta, which can affect blood pressure.

In comparison to the control group, both sugar-fed groups showed increased calorie intake. But the total calorie intake was higher in of the glucose-fed rats than the rats that were given fructose.

Despite this difference in calorie intake, the fructose group exhibited a significant increase in final body weight.

The results suggest that an increase in the amount of calories consumed is not the only factor involved in long-term health risks.

Also the rats fed with glucose exhibited less adverse metabolic and vascular effects.

Hence the study clearly indicates that it is not only the quantity of sugar but also the type of sugar that affects long-term health risks like diabetes, heart diseases etc.

The paper was published in the American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology.

Reference

Gemma Sangüesa et al. TYPE OF SUPPLEMENTED SIMPLE SUGAR, NOT MERELY CALORIE INTAKE, DETERMINES ADVERSE EFFECTS ON METABOLISM AND AORTIC FUNCTION IN FEMALE RATS. American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology; (2017) DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00339.2016

Source-Medindia