Consuming fructose-sweetened, not glucose-sweetened, beverages increases visceral adiposity and lipids and decreases insulin sensitivity in overweight/obese humans.

Description

This study assessed the effects of glucose- and fructose-sweetened beverages providing 25% of energy requirements for 10 weeks in overweight/obese men and women (glucose n=15; fructose n=17). Over the 10-week period, the increase in body weight was similar between the 2 groups. However, intra-abdominal (visceral) adiposity was only significantly increased in individuals consuming fructose. Globally, a deterioration in the lipoprotein-lipid profile was observed in subjects consuming fructose-sweetened beverages. For instance, fructose consumption increased hepatic de novo and the 23-hour postprandial triglyceride response. Other markers of the lipoprotein-lipid profile, such as fasting apolipoprotein B, LDL size and oxidized LDL, were significantly altered following the consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages. Finally, fasting glucose and insulin levels increased while insulin sensitivity decreased in subjects consuming fructose. In a detailed commentary, Hofmann and Tschöp recognized that the study by Stanhope et al. applied state-of-the-art metabolic measurements. Thus, it was the most informative clinical study available to date to examine the effects of glucose- vs. fructose-sweetened beverages on anthropometric and body fat distribution variables, lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. In light of data available so far, they recommend moderation with a balanced caloric ingestion, without excluding the occasional sweet soda (containing fructose, which manufacturers prefer because it significantly increases the perception of sweetness).