Increased fructose intake may raise obesity, diabetes risk

Washington, Mar 25 (ANI): Johns Hopkins scientists have found that an increased consumption of fructose can lead to higher food intake, which may contribute to a high incidence of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

Because of the recent inclination towards excessive consumption of 'high energy' foods and sedentary behaviour, there is a high incidence of obesity and its pathological consequences.

Such lifestyles have led to the increased occurrence of insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.

M. Daniel Lane and colleagues have now focussed on the role of malonyl-CoA in the signalling system in the brain (specifically the hypothalamus) that has inputs into the higher brain centres that determine feeding behaviour, most notably appetite.

Two previous studies showed that glucose and fructose act quite differently in the brain (hypothalamus) - glucose decreasing food intake and fructose increasing food intake.

Both of these sugars signal in the brain through the malonyl-CoA signaling pathway and have inverse effects on food intake.

"We feel that these findings may have particular relevance to the massive increase in the use of high fructose sweeteners (both high fructose corn syrup and table sugar) in virtually all sweetened foods, most notably soft drinks. The per capita consumption of these sweeteners in the USA is about 145 lbs/year and is probably much higher in teenagers/youth that have a high level of consumption of soft drinks. There is a large literature now that correlates, but does not prove that a culprit in the rise of teenage obesity may be fructose," said Lane.

The study is published in the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. (ANI)