The Body's Production of Fructose Linked to Obesity

Researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine reported that the cause of obesity and insulin resistance may be tied to the fructose that our body produces in addition to the fructose that we consume.

According to background information from the study, high fructose corn syrup and table sugar (sucrose) can dramatically increase obesity risk and insulin resistance, which numerous studies suggest may be due to added sugars.

Lead study authors Miguel Lanaspa, Ph.D., and Takuji Ishimoto, MD, reported that mice can actually convert glucose to fructose in their life, a critical conversion that drives the development of obesity and insulin resistance in the mice that were fed glucose.

"Our data suggests that it is the fructose generated from glucose that is largely responsible for how carbohydrates cause fatty liver and insulin resistance," Lanaspa said, via a press release.

Richard Johnson, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the division of renal diseases and hypertension at the School of Medicine and senior author of the paper also added the following, via the release: "Our studies provide an understanding for why high glycemic foods may increase the risk for obesity and insulin resistance. While some of the weight gain is driven by the caloric content and the effects of stimulating insulin, the ability of high glycemic foods to cause insulin resistance and fatty liver is due in part to the conversion of glucose to fructose inside the body.

"Ironically, our study shows that much of the risk from ingesting high glycemic foods is actually due to the generation of fructose, which is a low glycemic sugar. These studies challenge the dogma that fructose is safe and that it is simply the high glycemic carbohydrates that need to be restricted."

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Nature Communications.