New Study Finds High Fructose Corn Syrup Has Same Effect on Signals of Appetite and Fullness as Table Sugar

"Some have claimed that HFCS may be responsible for the increase in obesity rates over the past 30 years because it did not stimulate signals in the body that indicate appetite or fullness in the same way table sugar does. Until now, that had never been tested," said Dr. James Rippe, founder and director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute and Associate Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, who conducted the study with his colleagues. "Previous studies were conducted with pure fructose -- not HFCS."

Both HFCS and table sugar are made up of the simple sugars fructose and glucose in approximately equal mixtures. Most types of HFCS, a sweetener widely used in food and beverage products, contain about 55% fructose and 45% glucose, while table sugar is 50% fructose and 50% glucose.

"With only slightly more fructose than table sugar, the name 'high fructose corn syrup' is a misnomer, as it makes people think there is much more fructose in HFCS than sugar," Rippe said.

The study was presented today at the Experimental Biology conference in San Francisco. The randomized, double-blind study tested the effects of consuming beverages sweetened with HFCS or beverages sweetened with table sugar on circulating levels of blood sugar, insulin and satiety hormones in 30 normal-weight women. These beverages were consumed over the course of a day along with normal meals.

In the women tested, the researchers found no differences in circulating blood sugar levels, insulin levels or the levels of leptin or ghrelin, which are hormones thought to be involved in regulating food intake. Further research is necessary to see if this is also true for men, for obese populations and for blood measures over a longer time period. The study was funded by PepsiCo.