Sugar (sucrose) is a disaccharide molecule comprised of glucose and fructose units joined with a glycosidic bond. Sugar intake in developed civilisation is much higher than in native tribes living traditional lifestyles, and evidence suggests that sugar in the diet is a large contributor to the degenerative diseases associated with ‘Western’ living. Sugar is thought to lead to disease largely because it contains fructose. Fructose is metabolised by the liver, and if large amounts are ingested, it is converted to fatty acids (de novo lipogenesis) and exported in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). There is good evidence that these fatty acids in circulation contribute to insulin resistance, which results in metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease. High fructose corn syrup also contributes high amounts of fructose to the diet of developed nations, because it is added to sweets, cakes, soft drinks and baked goods.
Sugar: The Bitter Truth is a lecture given by Dr Robert Lustig and covers the story of sugar, fructose and high fructose corn syrup.
