What if sugar was found to be the cause of many common health problems?

[azul]

Could the media now report it and not be sued by disparagement laws by many businesses in the food industry? Does the media not report problems for fear of legal troubles or get to use that for an excuse to not help protect the public and do its job?

Has our legal system gone that crazy that it preferentially protects business interests ahead of public safety and thus compromised the watchdogs?

And the next question is, of course, could you give up sugar if you knew it was dangerous? And what about screaming kids?

-------------


Transient high glucose causes persistent epigenetic changes and altered gene expression during subsequent normoglycemia.


Hyperglycemia-induced epigenetic changes and increased p65 expression

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18809715?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum




Investigating the Epigenetic Basis of Diabetic
Complications


http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:94r2T-xyew4J:www.jdrf.org/files/General_Files/Research_ENews/Frontline_Feb09.pdf

[JDPriestly]

1. Haven't sugar and corn syrup already been found to be the cause

of many serious health problems like obesity, some forms of diabetes, etc. And ask any doctor, especially any surgeon about how difficult it is to operate on the morbidly obese.

[BlooInBloo]

2. (facepalm) Yah - I'll just re-tool my mitochondria to burn asparagus.

[Greyhound]

36. How is it possible for you to spend so much time in school, attend so many classes, and

still manage to avoid learning anything?

Check with your human biology prof.

[Cleita]

3. I've been eating sugar all my life and now at the age of

69, other than some dental decay, my cholesterol is quite normal. I think it depends on the individual and how they metabolize sugar. Now that the food packaging and canning industry are required to list ingredients on their product, it seems people at risk should be reading the labels for hidden sugars. When my husband's blood pressure went out of control, I had to do that for the sodium content of what he ate. That doesn't mean that most of us can't metabolize a lot of salt. Most of us can and don't have to worry about it.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

4. It would seem the people that abuse the substance that causes the problem would be to blame.

[distantearlywarning]

19. You mean, like, um, pretty much everyone in the U.S.?

So what should be done with all of us 300 million miscreants?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

24. That's odd most of the people that I know don't abuse sugar.

[distantearlywarning]

30. Maybe they don't know they're abusing sugar.

Do they read labels carefully?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

31. That would be unlikely.

They are fit, very athletic people who seem to manage their diet well. They don't have diabetes or high triglycerides.

David

[distantearlywarning]

32. So you're saying they do read their labels?

And consequently don't eat a single spoonful of anything with even a pinch of sugar in it? Ever?

Must be nice to be a superior human being with the time and money to spend avoiding all the hidden crap in the vast majority of U.S. supermarket foods. Not to mention never letting a single bite of dessert pass one's lips. Wow. I'm impressed.

So...what are you amazing sugar teetotaller fitness and diet gurus planning to do with all the rest of us horrible worthless weak-willed people who commit the dreadful sin of not planning our lives around label-reading? Or, even worse, who succumb to the horrible temptation of eating an ice cream cone once in a while (the horror!).

I'm thinking maybe "fat camp" Gitmo. A concrete cell, rice cakes & exercise till you puke them back up again. That'll solve the obesity problem in America - if for no other reason than all the fatty sugar-eaters and the kind of people who dare to just put things in their mouth without reading labels have been extradited to some other country! And in the meantime all the superior beings with good willpower and no desire for dessert can enjoy the comforts of a lard-ass-less United States. Sounds great, huh?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

34. Who said that eating sugar was abusing it?

Sugar in moderation is fine if you don't have diabetes. I don't know what you thought I was saying.

David

[hlthe2b]

5. While there are issue with sugar cane-produced sucrose

I believe science is showing very distinctly different risks associated with corn syrup, particularly high fructose corn syrup. For this reason, I encourage you to be specific when discussing the two and any inherent health effects.

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. Can I encourage you to be specific about the very distinctly different risks?

There's not that much difference in the composition of HFCS and sucrose - as used in soft drinks, HFCS is 55% fructose, 45% glucose; sucrose is 50/50, as is (roughly) orange juice.

[hlthe2b]

16. I'm actually at work but knowledge about the unique risks of ...

HFCS are not clearly understood--especially by physicians and nutritionists who came through years ago and have not kept up with the literature, so here is a bit... (and, no, I am not suggesting sucrose (table sugar) is that good for you either, but high fructose corn syrup is increasingly being shown to have uniquely harmful effects on the body and metabolism).

I suggest you do medline searches for more information, as google inevitably takes you to non-peer reviewed sites or those promoted by the corn industry (go figure...:eyes:) (P.S. I note that DU seems to insert emoticons in some areas of the reference list I pasted into the post. Not sure why, but if there is a specific reference that is obstructed by the substituted emoticon, I can go back and check on whatever number/symbol might be missing)
***********************************************************************************
Fructose produces lower levels of the hormones leptin and insulin than glucose. Raising leptin and insulin levels trigger the feeling of "fullness" while eating. The level of the hormone ghrelin remains higher with consumption of fructose than it does with glucose. Ghrelin appears to control the feeling of "hunger". This double change in normal production of these hormones results in a slower decrease in appetite and a tendency to consume more than if glucose were to be used. Thus more is consumed to get the same "full" and "satiated" feeling and the total caloric intake is greater. Additionally, the level of blood triglycerides shows a rapid and prolonged elevation after consuming fructose as opposed to glucose. JCEM 2/24/2004

High triglyceride levels are believed to be linked to clogging of the arteries and may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. They may even be more important for determining the risk of heart disease than cholesterol.

**********
With a growing sense of urgency, scientists are examining the relationship between consumption of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and numerous adverse medical conditions. And they're coming away with a sour taste in the mouth. Emerging research shows that excessive dietary fructose, largely from consumption of HFCS, represents "an important, but not well-appreciated dietary change," which has "...rapidly become an important causative factor in the development of the metabolic syndrome," (9) a conglomeration of risk factors that greatly elevates the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Other research suggests that high dietary fructose consumption contributes to obesity and insulin resistance, (5,7) encourages kidney stone formation, (13) promotes gout, (14-17) and is contributing to an upsurge in cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. (4,18,19) Furthermore, high dietary fructose consumption is associated with increased production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), which are linked with the complications of diabetes and with the aging process itself. (2,5,7)

High dietary intake of fructose is problematic because fructose is metabolized differently from glucose. Like fructose, glucose is a simple sugar. Derived from the breakdown of carbohydrates, glucose is a primary source of ready energy. Sucrose (table sugar) comprises one molecule of glucose and one molecule of fructose. Thus, excessive sucrose intake also contributes to the rise in overall daily fructose consumption. Glucose can be metabolized and converted to ATP, which is readily "burned" for energy by the cells' mitochondria. Alternatively, glucose can be stored in the liver as a carbohydrate for later conversion to energy. Fructose, on the other hand, is more rapidly metabolized in the liver, flooding metabolic pathways and leading to increased triglyceride synthesis and fat storage in the liver. This can cause a rise in serum triglycerides, promoting an atherogenic lipid profile and elevating cardiovascular risk. Increased fat storage in the liver may lead to an increased incidence in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and this is one of several links between HFCS consumption and obesity as well as the metabolic syndrome. (7)

*****
FRUCTOSE LINKED WITH INSULIN RESISTANCE AND DIABETES

The high flux of fructose to the liver, the main organ capable of metabolizing this simple carbohydrate, disturbs glucose metabolism and uptake pathways and leads to metabolic disturbances that underlie the induction of insulin resistance, (9) a hallmark of type 2 diabetes.

In fact, the effect of HFCS on insulin resistance has been shown to have an impact on the prevalence of diabetes. In 2004, investigators conducted an ecological correlation study, in which they compared the relationship between food consumption of refined carbohydrates and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the US from 1909 to 1997. They found that during this period, the use of corn syrup sweeteners, which were almost non-existent at the turn of the century, increased by more than 2,100%. During the same period, the prevalence of diabetes skyrocketed. After controlling for total energy intake from other foods such as fats and proteins, only the increase in corn syrup and a decrease in fiber intake correlated positively with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (22) prevalence of diabetes. In 2004, investigators conducted an ecological correlation study, in which they compared the relationship between food consumption of refined carbohydrates and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the US from 1909 to 1997. They found that during this period, the use of corn syrup sweeteners, which were almost non-existent at the turn of the century, increased by more than 2,100%. During the same period, the prevalence of diabetes skyrocketed. After controlling for total energy intake from other foods such as fats and proteins, only the increase in corn syrup and a decrease in fiber intake correlated positively with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. (22)

Scientists have therefore come to realize that all sugars are not created equal, which has been borne out in a number of studies. In one study, investigators looked at whether reduction in insulin sensitivity was caused by glucose or fructose components of the diet. They took two groups of young healthy men and fed one group a high-glucose diet, while the other received a diet high in fructose. At the end of one week, high-fructose feeding was accompanied by a significant reduction in insulin sensitivity and insulin binding, whereas no significant changes were seen in the high-glucose group. (23)

Another study found that diets containing a moderate amount of fructose produced undesirable changes in glucose metabolism in both normal and hyper-insulinemic men. (24)


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[muriel_volestrangler]

20. But still, there doesn't seem to be anything saying the 10% extra fructose is a special problem

I can't see anything in the papers saying HFCS is 'distinctly different' from sucrose.

[hlthe2b]

21. Take some time to review.... I think you will find

otherwise....

While regular table sugar (sucrose) is 50% fructose and 50% glucose, high-fructose corn syrup can contain up to 80% fructose and 20% glucose, almost twice the fructose of common table sugar. Both table sugar and high-fructose sweetener contain four calories per gram, so calories alone are not the key problem with high-fructose corn syrup. Rather, metabolism of excess amounts of fructose is the major concern.

[muriel_volestrangler]

29. *can* contain *up to* 80%

but doesn't, in its typical use in drinks, which is when it's consumed in large amounts. There, it's 55%. So the amount of fructose consumed is about 10% more than if sucrose was used. Those papers all seem to say the amount of fructose in the diet is the problem. So sugar is just about as bad for you as HFCS.

[hlthe2b]

33. Muriel, I'd like to spend lots of time on this, but can't right now...

as I'm working a "double."

All, I can suggest is that you pull some of these papers and/or go to medline to do some of your own research. I think you will be quite surprised with the direction this research is going....

Best,

[muriel_volestrangler]

37. Of the 2 papers that mention HFCS in their titles, we have:

From 2004:

Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity

Obesity is a major epidemic, but its causes are still unclear. In this article, we investigate the relation between the intake of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and the development of obesity. We analyzed food consumption patterns by using US Department of Agriculture food consumption tables from 1967 to 2000. The consumption of HFCS increased > 1000% between 1970 and 1990, far exceeding the changes in intake of any other food or food group. HFCS now represents > 40% of caloric sweeteners added to foods and beverages and is the sole caloric sweetener in soft drinks in the United States. Our most conservative estimate of the consumption of HFCS indicates a daily average of 132 kcal for all Americans aged >= 2 y, and the top 20% of consumers of caloric sweeteners ingest 316 kcal from HFCS/d. The increased use of HFCS in the United States mirrors the rapid increase in obesity. The digestion, absorption, and metabolism of fructose differ from those of glucose. Hepatic metabolism of fructose favors de novo lipogenesis. In addition, unlike glucose, fructose does not stimulate insulin secretion or enhance leptin production. Because insulin and leptin act as key afferent signals in the regulation of food intake and body weight, this suggests that dietary fructose may contribute to increased energy intake and weight gain. Furthermore, calorically sweetened beverages may enhance caloric overconsumption. Thus, the increase in consumption of HFCS has a temporal relation to the epidemic of obesity, and the overconsumption of HFCS in calorically sweetened beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity.

http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/79/4/537

Interesting, but there's lots of 'may's in there. It doesn't have much to say about a difference between HFCS and sugar:

The major user of HFCS in the world is the United States; however, HFCS is now manufactured and used in many countries throughout the world (7). In the United States, HFCS is the major source of caloric sweeteners in soft drinks and many other sweetened beverages and is also included in numerous other foods; therefore, HFCS constitutes a major source of dietary fructose. Few data are available on foods containing HFCS in countries other than the United States
...
The beverages in this study were sweetened with sucrose, whereas in the United States almost all calorically sweetened beverages are sweetened with HFCS. Thus, we need a second randomized controlled study that compares sucrose- and HFCS-sweetened beverages. This could establish whether the form of the caloric sweetener played a role in the weight gain observed in the study by Raben et al

And its section on perceived sweetness says "HFCS-55 would be 1.28 times as sweet as sucrose". So, for the same amount of sweetness, HFCS actually contains less fructose than sucrose (the fructose in the sucrose is still as the disaccharide, in the mouth; but it's absorbed through the gut as fructose in all cases).

From 2007:

A critical examination of the evidence relating high fructose corn syrup and weight gain.

The use of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has increased over the past several decades in the United States while overweight and obesity rates have risen dramatically. Some scientists hypothesize that HFCS consumption has uniquely contributed to the increasing mean body mass index (BMI) of the U.S. population. The Center for Food, Nutrition, and Agriculture Policy convened an expert panel to discuss the published scientific literature examining the relationship between consumption of HFCS or "soft drinks" (proxy for HFCS) and weight gain. The authors conducted original analysis to address certain gaps in the literature. Evidence from ecological studies linking HFCS consumption with rising BMI rates is unreliable. Evidence from epidemiologic studies and randomized controlled trials is inconclusive. Studies analyzing the differences between HFCS and sucrose consumption and their contributions to weight gain do not exist. HFCS and sucrose have similar monosaccharide compositions and sweetness values. The fructose:glucose (F:G) ratio in the U.S. food supply has not appreciably changed since the introduction of HFCS in the 1960s. It is unclear why HFCS would affect satiety or absorption and metabolism of fructose any differently than would sucrose. Based on the currently available evidence, the expert panel concluded that HFCS does not appear to contribute to overweight and obesity any differently than do other energy sources. Research recommendations were made to improve our understanding of the association of HFCS and weight gain.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17653981

So that says there's no evidence, yet, that HFCS is different from sucrose in its effects on people. Since the US uses much more HFCS than many other industrialised countries (such as in Europe), if there was a distinct difference in what HFCS does to people's health, it should be easy to find it from epidemiology. But no-one has, yet.

:shrug:

I agree that less fructose in the diet would be a good thing, it seems, from the studies. But substituting sucrose for HFCS won't achieve that. As the first paper I quoted says, artificial sweeteners would be the way to do it.

[hlthe2b]

40. re:

You say: "
So that says there's no evidence, yet, that HFCS is different from sucrose in its effects on people. Since the US uses much more HFCS than many other industrialised (sic) countries (such as in Europe), if there was a distinct difference in what HFCS does to people's health, it should be easy to find it from epidemiology. But no-one has, yet."

I dare say you do not understand the epidemiology and trends in obesity, type II diabetes and coronary artery disease if you are really saying that, Muriel. Back to work, for me though.. Hopefully someone else knowledgeable on the issue can step in where I left off.

[Traveling_Home]

6. What if the air you breathe out is poisonous - even if ya brush nt

[HysteryDiagnosis]

7. Even people who do not have diabetes develop sundry little items

known as advanced glycation endproducts. Asparagus probably contributes little to these monsters.


http://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/21/4/186
The incidence of diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes, is increasing at an alarming rate. Worldwide, about 124 million people had diabetes by1997; by 2010, this number is estimated to reach 221 million. Because of the large number of severe pathologies complicating the clinical course of diabetes, one can easily speculate on the huge economic and psychosocial impact of diabetes across age groups and geographical regions.

A large number of studies have focused on the factors involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, most seeking effective therapies, but the exact cellular or molecular basis of these complications has not yet been fully elucidated. Hyperglycemia is still considered the principal cause of diabetes complications. Its deleterious effects are attributable, among other things, to the formation of sugar-derived substances called advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs form at a constant but slow rate in the normal body, starting in early embryonic development, and accumulate with time. However, their formation is markedly accelerated in diabetes because of the increased availability of glucose.

[Warpy]

8. Eating something sweet always makes me crave something salty

and eating something salty makes me crave something sweet.

Knowing this, I avoid both things with the exception of homemade soda I make with non caffeine, Splenda syrup. For some reason, that doesn't make me crave anything.

[SmileyRose]

9. sugar, honey, and regular syrups in moderation are fine - it's high fructose corn syrup

even in moderation, high fructose corn syrup does some really terrible things to some folk's metabolism. Even those that are only a few pounds overweight can develop metabolic problems. Science is still debating whether high fructose corn syrup changes metabolism on it's own or if those who tend to consume slightly higher amounts are simply ingesting more calories. I have seen enough to be convinced to try to avoid it as much as possible.

Sugar, honey, maple syrup, molasses, and plain corn syrup do no such harm. They provide only few nutrients at best and a lot of calories. They also spike insulin production, so moderation is key. Their affect is certainly no more than fruits or high sugar veggies like potatoes and carrots.

[azul]

11. Moderation is good in calories, but something else is going on here.

During the Viet Nam war, all US casualities autopsied showed some degree of hardening and constricting of the arteries.

The article above is about inflammation stimulation by sugar spikes. Inflammation and thus immune response is involved in heart disease and stroke, complications of diabetes and cancer.

Could over-indulging in sugar change metabolism to allow susceptibility to these diseases that are linked to the modern diet?

[hlthe2b]

18. Check my posts upstream... HFCS is metabolized differently

Research is increasingly showing health risks specific to high fructose corn syrup which suggests its dramatic rise in use (substituting for sucrose)with the epidemic of type II diabetes and obesity is not just a fluke. Yes, even table sugar (sucrose) has inflammatory effects on the body and is not great when consumed in large quantities, but HFCS is emerging as far more harmful and far more uniquely harmful than the other forms and sources of "sugar."

[shanti]

41. the culprit is HFCS, NOT sugar

i don't recall the u.s. having such a high incidence of obesity before the 80's.

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

10. i am sure it doesn't help that sugar syrup

is added to everything. I always check labels before I buy, and the stuff is in almost everything. Especially the "cheap" food. It is something that should be addressed, but I doubt it will.

[mudesi]

12. It is

[Sheepshank]

14. Sheepshank

My family and I are a living walking experiment in reducing...almost eliminating sugar. We have a bet going. 5 core items to be strictly eliminated...without fail. No sugared sodas. No cakes or brownies. No cookies. No candy and candy bars. No adding sugar to cereals and coffee etc. We started January 1. As of today, I originally lost 8 lbs, but the weight is slowly creeping back up. The kids lost 2-3 lbs each. We have been playing with substitutes, because they are kids that they want something as a treat. I have bought splenda, and sugar free hard candy, diet drink for an occasional treat and sugar free cookies. Not overindulging, but as a replacement when the urge strikes. It has been almost 2 months and frankly I do feel a noticeable difference. Shit!!!!

[The Straight Story]

15. We need to raise the tax per pound and pur warning labels on it

:hide:

[hlthe2b]

17. Absolutely and have you checked how many products contain

this crap? Even ice cream labeled as "natural" (some Breyers types and some others)are loaded with this.... My determination to cut all HFCS out of my diet has the added advantage (I guess) of forcing me to cut out the majority of all processed and most "convenience" foods... Check the label of bakery items--even from grocery delis/bakeries--they nearly all substitute sugar for this crap because it is cheaper. Overpriced Hagen Daaz ice cream remains one my last (and very rarely consumed) luxuries, since it really is "natural" in its ingredients-- milk, cream, sugar, eggs, vanilla, fruit, etc.

[Mike 03]

22. You just stated my belief. I remember the wild goose chase we've been on, when way back, when I

was ten years old, sugar was the enemy, and then fat became the enemy, and then refined carbs (which is sugar, actually).

This is all going to come down to insulin. And the pancreas produces insulin in response to sugar. And insulin causes inflammation. And inflammation causes diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some forms of cancer. It changes the way that the liver stores fat. It contributes to obesity, which in turn contributes to cancer, diabetes, stress hormone release, high blood pressure and heart disease.

I think the cat is out of the bag, at least for people who do read up on current studies and medicine.

ON EDIT:

But it also appears that forms of animal protein have the same effect. It's not just sugar, but sugar is the major culprit.

[DeschutesRiver]

23. Wouldn't surprise me - almost fell outta my chair when I saw an ad for

a whole tv show on diabetes - something like diabeteslife?

You gotta have a ton of people with diabetes to make it into a weekly show that viewers want to watch. That was eye-opening to me - and something in our environment is causing this disease to have become almost an epidemic.

[Tesha]

25. What if reading DU was shown to be a cause, or at least an indicator, of mental health problems? NT

[FarLeftRage]

26. Only to the members of freekrepubliKKK

:rofl:

[Mike 03]

27. That's a good one. Worthy of a DUzy. They say the best humor is only funny because it has

a strong element of truth.

[Tesha]

28. Thanks. (NT)

[stuntcat]

35. we only use honey and turbinado

and I've learned to use a lot less of them. I'm lucky I don't have a sweet tooth, I never want deserts and ice cream and stuff.

It's easy to take in some sugar like every time we open our mouths!, unless we're careful.

[stuntcat]

42. (I din't mean to sound all THAT WAY.. but refined sugar is actually VERY BAD for people)

(I didn't mean to sound all prissy. Sugar is everywhere, most of it is natural and not unhealthy, but adding refined sugar to everything is just plain bad for us.)

[TexasObserver]

38. Drinking too much water can kill you.

Sugar is one of our natural cravings, because in nature we wouldn't consume it that frequently. Because it is so readily available now, because it's there for everyone in unlimited qualities, and reasonably cheap, we do not have the natural curbs on excessive ingestion of sugars.

Whether it is water, sugar, animal fat, or some other substance to we tend to consume too much, excess consumption can hurt us.

We know too much sugar is bad for some people, and we have education for citizens that generally makes such fact known to the population. I don't think you'd find any American who would say they think sugar is good for them, and that's why they consume it. No one ever ate a chocolate sundae and exclaimed, "now that's nutritious!!"

[Maru Kitteh]

39. What if we took the time to understand that it's usually more complicated than sugar = bad

Blood glucose levels are dependent on a large and complicated set of variables involving your hypothalumus, pituitary, adrenal cortex, thyroid, pancreas, the hormones cortisone, T3, T4, glucagon, insulin, somatostatins, and ACTH - just to begin with.

Like banannas? You're eating sugar. Starches like potatoes or rice flour? Also converted to blood sugar. Furthermore, sugar is sugar is sugar. Anyone who thinks they are making a healthier-than-thou dietary choice by using honey instead of cane or beet sugar has fallen victim to misinformation. If you like the taste of honey better, so be it, but it is no better or worse for an adult than an equivalent serving of cane sugar.

Honey should NEVER be given to an infant under 12 months because of the risk of infant botulism.


Is too much sugar in your diet bad for you? Oftentimes, yes it is, but more commonly because of the obesity it can lead to. To simply say sugar = bad is misguided. There are lots of ways to get fat without excess sugar intake and consequently damage your bodies ability to manage and utilize blood glucose.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

43. All I know is that if I don't limit my intake of sweets

I get pain in my joints, and my acne rosacea flares up.