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Q: Is HFCS the same as fructose?

A: Absolutely not. Fructose is a monosaccharide, or simple sugar, while HFCS is a combination of both glucose and fructose. Contrary to its name, the most commonly used compositions of HFCS in beverages are not high in fructose.

Q: Does HFCS cause obesity?

A: Weight gain is a result of regularly eating more calories than the number of calories expended through normal living, physical activity and exercise. This is true regardless of the calorie source (i.e. proteins, fats, alcohol, carbohydrates or sugars). Peer-reviewed studies show no evidence supporting a causal link between HFCS and obesity. No one sweetener or single food can be blamed for causing obesity. To avoid or manage weight gain, balancing the number of calories consumed with the number of calories expended is essential. Moderation and variety, while maintaining adequate nutrient intakes, is the key to a balanced diet.

Q: Is there a scientific link between increased use of HFSC and rising obesity rates?

A: No. HFCS is not a unique contributor to obesity. In fact, a review article on the health effects of HFCS shows that “ ... causality is very definitive and indicates that a change in one event always leads to a change in the second. Because so many concomitant factors changed between the mid-1970s and 2003, it is scientifically unjustifiable to blame one commodity for a problem like obesity, which is multifactorial.” Furthermore, rates of obesity have increased dramatically across the globe, even in countries where HFCS is not a commonly used sweetener, such as England, Egypt and Australia.

Q: Does HFCS cause type 2 diabetes?

A: The Women’s Health Study shows no association between sugars and type 2 diabetes, further corroborating the American Diabetes Association’s position that moderate intake of sugars can be a part of a healthy lifestyle. People with diabetes must pay attention to the amount of all carbohydrates—sugars and starches—they consume. Being overweight or obese, lack of physical activity and genetic predisposition increase the risk for type 2 diabetes.

Q: Is metabolic syndrome a result of consuming HFCS?

A: Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a group of symptoms that all relate to insulin resistance. Insulin resistance results from the body ineffectively using the insulin it produces. Excess body fat, lack of physical activity and genetic predisposition are thought to be the primary drivers for developing insulin resistance.

Q: Why is HFCS used in foods and beverages?

A: Taste along with nutrition, convenience and cost are often factors that influence consumer food purchases. HFCS provides numerous consumer benefits, such as sweetness, shelf stability and pourability. For manufacturers, HFCS is easy to process and transport due to its liquid nature.

Q: Does the body process HFCS and sucrose differently?

A: High fructose corn syrup, a mixture of glucose and fructose, goes through the same absorptive process as sucrose, with the only difference of the action of sucrase in sucrose metabolism. Both HFCS and sucrose are broken down into the simple sugars glucose and fructose during digestion. Whether the source of the simple sugars is sucrose or HFCS, the body still processes them in the same way.

Link to the National Corn Grower’s Association website for more information on HFCS:

http://www.corn.org/ILSI-USDA-workshop.html

Link to Health Canada’s website on sugar substitutes:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/food-aliment/sugar_sub_sucre-eng.php