It is becoming increasingly evident that sugar (sucrose) is detrimental to the health. Animal models and cell culture have shown that it is likely the fructose moiety of sugar that is detrimental. In this regard, fructose is able to detrimentally alter the function of the insulin system when its refined and crystalline form, and this over the long term causes weight gain, glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes. A number of studies have investigated the effects of sugar consumption in human subjects, and generally detrimental effects have been found, with effects becoming increasingly more problematic with time and dose of sugar. A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition1 investigated the detrimental effects of sugar consumption in a number of foods and compared the effects to those of dairy that were consumed by a different group. Diabetic subjects consumed dairy products (low fat yoghurt and milk) or sugar products (non-diet soft drinks and pudding) for 6 weeks before switching to the other treatment.
The results of the study confirmed previous findings in that blood glucose homeostasis deteriorated in the sugar consuming group, when compared to the dairy consuming group. In particular, consumption of the sugar sweetened foods caused a deterioration in insulin sensitivity, which is consistent with the effects of fructose that have been reported previously. In addition, the high density lipoprotein (HDL) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of the subjects consuming the sugar sweetened foods decreased suggesting that detrimental effects had occurred to the lipid regulatory system, and this is also consistent with the known effects of fructose on the liver. These results support other studies that have found detrimental effects of sugar on insulin function in human subjects and suggest that for diabetics in particular, consumption of sugar is particularly bad. Strange then that fructose is a recommended sugar for consumption by diabetic patients, based on its inability to stimulate the release of insulin. Cavet emptor indeed.
RdB
