Is High Fructose Corn Syrup an "Addiction?"
Recently I was given the opportunity to read an interesting medical abstract by Dr. Robert Lustig, (The Bariatrician, 2009, Volume 24, No. 1, pg. 10). Dr. Lustig is a neuroendocrinologist and member of the Endocrine Society Obesity Task Force. He states that HFCS acts metabolically similar to that of ethanol, a central nervous system toxin derivative, after consuming alcohol.
Without even realizing it, (or maybe they know somehow?) the food manufacturers of HFCS have developed a quite “legal” addictive substance adding to our obesity epidemic. The fructose in HFCS apparently has a direct effect on the central nervous system in the hedonic (pleasure producing) pathway of the brain similar to alcohol. It impacts the central nervous system signaling addiction like cravings to the individual consuming HFCS. But instead of intoxication which you may normally experience from alcohol you have over consumption of a food or beverage that contains HFCS. Dr. Lustig states that HFCS should be regarded as “alcohol without the buzz.”
Remember though, natural occurring fructose (not the man made form from HFCS) coming fresh unprocessed whole fresh fruit does not contain enough fructose to cause any of the problems associated with HFCS. It is though, the consistent high intake of the manufactured high fructose corn syrup and high sugar items (both sugar and HFCS contain fructose and sucrose) from sodas, fruit juices and the numerous other food sources commonly found in processed foods that generate health problems.
References:
Lustig, Robert H. MD, the Fructose Epidemic http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/79/4/537
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Posted by: Elaine Murphy | Aug 11, 2009 1:51:35 PM
Hi Kyle, I agree, HFCS is close to sugar in it's make up and has pretty much the same calories. Yes, people are eating too much of it, and white cane sugar. My blog is just to alert people that consuming too much of either can cause the numerous health problems (from the sites above) we are seeing in epidemic proportions and to alert people how it all acts in the body. On a personal level, I suspect HFCS may be worse because of other factors, which just haven't been proven, yet. This reminds me of how trans fats were initially deemed safe and now look at what has been revealed.
My references are mainly from
The Bariatrician, 2009, Volume 24, No. 1 by Dr. Lustig, a neuroendocrinologist and member of the Endocrine Society Obesity Task Force.
It truly is about moderation.
Elaine Murphy,BA
Certified Nutrition Consultant
Posted by: Kyle Shadix, MS, RD | Aug 10, 2009 2:58:46 PM
HI Elaine- I’ve found it’s important with nutrition information to go to the health experts – and in this case the American Medical Association, American Dietetic Association, Food and Drug Administration and others confirm the safety of high fructose corn syrup, and its nutritional parity to sugar. There’s good information on the mercury issue here (http://duketox.mc.duke.edu/recenttoxissues.htm) The USDA study you cite concerns fructose, not high fructose corn syrup. Despite its name, high fructose corn syrup and sucrose (table sugar) have almost equal amounts of fructose. I agree, moderation is key. Kyle Shadix, Registered Dietitian
Posted by: Elaine Murphy | Aug 8, 2009 10:10:34 PM
Hi Kyle,
Both sugar and high fructose are similar, I agree, but I think HFCS may be more suspect in regard to other issues that are evolving all the time:1) news around mercury contamination in HFCS is evolving. (http://www.iatp.org/iatp/press.cfm?refID=105025) 2)According to the USDA, it may alter the magnesium balance in the body, leading to an acceleration of bone loss. http://www.jacn.org/cgi/content/full/19/1/31.)3)The Weston A. Price Foundation suggests it uses genetically modified enzymes to make HFCS, among other horror stories: http://www.westonaprice.org/motherlinda/cornsyrup.html.
The bottom line both are consumed too excessively, which is the basic problem.
Posted by: Kyle Shadix, Registered Dietitian | Aug 8, 2009 12:17:57 PM
This article gives the perception that high fructose corn syrup is nutritionally different than sugar, when in fact they are the same. In fact, the American Medical Association stated after a thorough review that “high fructose syrup does not appear to contribute more to obesity than other caloric sweeteners."
It’s also interesting to note that Americans are consuming more calories from all types of foods today than what we consumed 30 years ago – we’ve increased the amount of fats, cereal products and sugars – but sugars are a smaller part of the equation. Many foods contain only small amounts of high fructose corn syrup – for example, you’d have to eat 87 bowls of bran cereal or 39 slices of bread in one day to reach the daily allowance for added sugars.
Kyle Shadix, MS, RD
Registered Dietitian
Posted by: Jessi | Aug 7, 2009 9:39:30 PM
This is so true. Per Dr.Kessler (former FDA Chief) we suffer from conditioned hyper eating which is attributed to sugars, salt and fat, which have been found to be highly addictive.
http://personalweightloss.webs.com
Posted by: Sam | Aug 7, 2009 1:35:09 PM
I knew diet coke drinkers were addicted. this explains alot.
Posted by: Celeste | Aug 6, 2009 6:11:47 PM
All forms of sugar (except for natural fructose found in fruits) are addictive... give it a try yourself... cut out all added sugar for one week and see if it isn't true then buy yourself a book published in the 1970's called "SUGAR BLUES" and kick the sugar habit for good!
