Current scientific evidence suggest that the consumption of refined crystalline fructose has detrimental health effects. In particular, the metabolic effects of fructose overfeeding have been shown to result in similar physiological changes as alcohol overfeeding. In this regard, fructose overconsumption can lead to the formation of non-alcoholic fatty liver, while alcohol overconsumption can lead to the formation of alcoholic fatty liver. These two disorders are pathologically similar, and both result from an overproduction of fatty acids, and their subsequent accumulation in the liver tissue. One of the problems with fructose, is that is provides less of a satiating effect when compared to other refined sugars and starch, and this makes it particularly easy to overconsume. Therefore while alcohol is addictive, fructose by passes notmal appetite regulatory mechanins because it does not stimulate the release of insulin, and this increases the risk of over consuming both.
Another problem with refined crystalline fructose stems from its often consumption in liquid form. It has been suggested that liquid calories are more easily over consumed compared to solid food. This relates to the fact that consumption of liquid foods are regulated in a different way to that of solid food. Liquid food consumption is regulated by the thirst response, while solid food is regulated by the hunger response. The thirst response relates really to the consumption of water to maintain hydration levels within the cells of the body. In contrast, the hunger response is concerned with maintaining energy reserves in the body and in this regard is controlled in a more complex way. Using energy containing liquids to satisfy the thirst response, because the response is not concerned with energy intake, therefore increases the risk of over consuming energy. This may be why soft drinks, fruit juices and energy drinks are so strongly associated with weight gain and obesity, and why removing these drink from the diet is so beneficial to weight loss.
Differences in the way that animals respond to sugar as a disaccharide or to glucose and fructose given as monosaccharides have also been shown. In this regard, the mice fed glucose and fructose fared less well in their natural daily existence than those fed sucrose. Such differences became evident later in the lives of the mice. Aspects such as mating, food gathering and social interaction were negatively affected by the glucose and fructose feeding compared to the sucrose feeding. This suggest that fructose and glucose as monosaccharides, when in combination, can enter metabolic pathways that are not entered by the disaccharide sucrose. Mice are more easy to study than humans, and it would be very difficult to replicate such conditions in humans, as the variables that can affect humans cannot be so easily controlled. Just how fructose affects the long term health of human is not fully understood, but based on the evidence to date there is good reason to avoid its consumption when in its refined, particularly when in solution.
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