There are many sweeteners that we consume on a daily basis, perhaps not directly but through a large number of processed foods from the food industry .
One of these sweeteners is high fructose corn syrup , a substance used mainly to sweeten a large number of industrialized foods , due to its high sweetening power and low cost.
In the following article, we provide you with all the information you need to know about high fructose corn syrup, what its components are, and its effects on human health.
What is high fructose corn syrup?
As we mentioned in the introduction, high fructose corn syrup, identified worldwide by its HFCS acronym , is an industrial product made to sweeten mainly foods and beverages manufactured in large proportions.
This sweetener is of synthetic origin and comes from the processing of glucose from corn starch, to which certain enzymes are added to obtain high fructose , a very sweetening product with a very low production cost compared to sucrose.
The most used presentation is HFCS-55, which contains 55% fructose , 42% glucose and 3% other sugars, and is found in most industrially processed products such as packaged cookies, pastries, soft drinks, juices, desserts, non-alcoholic beverages, among others.
You should know: The use of high fructose corn syrup was dedicated at first to treat diabetes , due to its low glycemic index (23), but later studies concluded that it stimulates more triglyceride synthesis compared to other sugars. (1)
What does high fructose corn syrup contain?
High fructose corn syrup is a product obtained from the crushing of wet corn grains and the hydrolyzation of starch by the action of glucose enzymes. HFCS 42 is obtained from this process and HFCS 55 is obtained through an additional process .
HFCS 42 contains 42% fructose, 53% glucose and 5% other sugars such as maltose, dextrose, among others, and HFCS 55 contains 55% fructose, 41% glucose and 4% other sugars. Both products may contain up to 20% water.
To highlight: If we consider the sweetening power of sucrose as 100, that of fructose is 170, we can conclude that HFCS is sweeter than table sugar.
What are the effects of high fructose corn syrup?
Undoubtedly, the high consumption of artificial sweeteners , such as high fructose corn syrup, in amounts that are not recommended, brings negative consequences for the body, which we describe below:
1. Promotes the risk of heart disease
As its name indicates, this sweetener is characterized by its significant fructose content (55% and 42%), and despite the fact that it is a product with a low glycemic index and low caloric intake, it has important negative effects on cardiovascular health.
Important: Studies have concluded that fructose consumption above the recommended daily intake alters the plasma concentration of triglycerides in the blood , an aspect that will eventually be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. (two)
In this sense, it is already sufficiently documented that very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) are related to the development of atherosclerosis , a disease of the circulatory system that causes thickening of the walls of blood vessels, causing other heart diseases such as arterial hypertension and eventually heart failure or heart attacks.
2. Increases blood sugar levels
Another of the negative effects of this artificial sweetener, both in healthy people and those with diabetes, due to its excessive consumption through foods that use it as an ingredient, is associated with an increase in body fat, with the consequent decrease in insulin and leptin, reducing insulin sensitivity.
This reduction in insulin sensitivity increases blood glucose levels, a very dangerous condition for those with diabetes.
Note: Consuming fructose through corn syrup does not stimulate insulin secretion like carbohydrates do. (3)
3. Increases body weight and the risk of obesity
The consumption of high fructose corn syrup may represent an added risk factor in the increase in body weight and obesity.
In this sense, it has been described that insulin, leptin and ghrelin are hormones that act on the energy balance of the organism. So, prolonged consumption of fructose could increase the body’s caloric intake or decrease its caloric expenditure, since it inhibits the production of these hormones.
To highlight: Studies have concluded that the reduction of insulin, leptin and ghrelin act through different mechanisms to increase appetite , contributing to the increase in body weight and obesity. (4)
4. Increases the risk of liver problems
Under normal conditions, fructose, when processed by the body , passes through the liver where it is transformed into glucose and becomes a source of energy available to the body. Remember that fructose is present in a wide variety of foods in the form of corn syrup.
Otherwise, it happens when the amount of fructose is excessive, in which situation it becomes lipids, which can cause a disease called non-alcoholic fatty liver, leading to liver cancer.
You should know: Studies conclude that excessive intake of lipids and simple carbohydrates such as fructose can cause non-alcoholic fatty liver. (5)
What foods contain high fructose corn syrup?
During the last decades, many industries dedicated to the manufacture of food have replaced sugar in the list of sweetening ingredients with other cheaper options , including high fructose corn syrup, in order to lower production costs. .
The list can start with baked goods , tomato-based sauces, soft drinks and other beverages, cereals, fruit nectars, processed foods, salad dressings, yogurt, even medicines like cough syrup contain HFCS.
We must also take into account that cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity come from multifactorial causes such as poor diet, sedentary lifestyle, lifestyle, among others, and that excessive consumption of foods that contain fructose increases these risk factors.
Important: The recommendation is to always read the label or label where the ingredients contained in the product are specified and in this way be aware of what is being consumed, and make rational use in the intake of those compounds that in some way can compromise our health. Health.
Key Findings
- High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a sweetener made artificially from corn starch.
- This sweetener is widely used in the food industry due to its low cost, to sweeten many processed foods.
- The consumption of high amounts of foods that contain fructose as an ingredient becomes a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity.
- The population most affected by the consumption of foods with fructose is the child population, since most of the processed products are aimed at this sector.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.