Breaking News: Sugar Is Still Bad for You

Published on Monday, June 21, 2010, by Sophie Brickman / Edit Post

Today, Businessweek reported a lab study that discovered fructose may cause certain fat cells in children to multiply faster. Thus this component of high-fructose corn syrup may increase the chances of childhood and adult obesity, which in turn increases the risk of diabetes. Scientists soaked visceral fat cells (which live deep in the abdomen) in fructose, and found that they multiplied more than those soaked in glucose; both visceral and subcutaneous cells (just below the skin) showed increased insulin resistance, which is a property of diabetes.

Keri Gans, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, cautioned that direct conclusions cannot be drawn between lab tests involving human cells and lab tests involving actual humans, though she stated that consuming sugar of any kind leads to an increase in calories, and too many calories lead to weight gain. (We knew this.) James Rippe, a consultant for the Corn Refiners Association, rebutted that while HFCS has been linked to diabetes, it is not the same as pure fructose, the sugar involved in this study. He clarified, "High-fructose corn syrup is half fructose and half glucose." Oh, it's only half? In that case, pass the Coca-Cola.

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  • "Oh, it’s only half?" - about the same as for sugar (sucrose). In sucrose the fructose and glucose are weakly bonded together. Your digestive track splits it into the two simple sugars, which are then absorbed.

    HFCS is high in fructose only when compared to plain corn syrup, which is mostly glucose.

  • Gee, when I hear "sugar" I think of sucrose, not mentioned at all in the story.

    These one-shot studies fall through so often when researchers try to duplicate them that it's irresponsible to give them a lot of publicity.

    BTW, when did someone say sugar was good for you?

  • I bet the scientists are wishing for the chefs (and media sensationalists) to stay out of their laboratories, as well. Until I see the original primary data, I'll assume it's BusinessWeek overanalyzing the data, not the nosy pant-waist science people.

  • In the old days I made a decent living as a test mouse. What's with these free floating viceral fat cells? Don't these guys know there's high unemployment out there?
    small mouse

  • I agree with rockfish42 - get them nosy panty-waist science people the heck out of my kitchen! As for me, I'm off sodas. I drink my fructose STRAIGHT FROM THE DRUM. I get it cut-rate from the same place I get my table-varnish. But I do draw the line - three quarts a day, that's my limit. Soon as we get that new fork-lift I can get out of bed and pick up my trousers at Omar the Tentmaker's, and...+READ

    I agree with rockfish42 - get them nosy panty-waist science people the heck out of my kitchen! As for me, I'm off sodas. I drink my fructose STRAIGHT FROM THE DRUM. I get it cut-rate from the same place I get my table-varnish. But I do draw the line - three quarts a day, that's my limit. Soon as we get that new fork-lift I can get out of bed and pick up my trousers at Omar the Tentmaker's, and get over to the Roto-Rooter man so he can ream out my aorta.-COLLAPSE

  • This is why the media needs to stay out of this sort of thing. Every time somebody publishes a study they trumpet some new wisdom as absolute truth and jerk the public around. Leave the scientific consensus to scientists.

  • Breaking news: inconclusive studies done on a statistically insignificant sample are still useless. They key graf: ""You can't draw a conclusion based on a single study, and this study was not done in humans [only human cells]. We need to take that into consideration," said Keri Gans. And she also provides this bit of wisdom: "she stated that consuming sugar of any kind leads to an increase in...+READ

    Breaking news: inconclusive studies done on a statistically insignificant sample are still useless. They key graf: ""You can't draw a conclusion based on a single study, and this study was not done in humans [only human cells]. We need to take that into consideration," said Keri Gans. And she also provides this bit of wisdom: "she stated that consuming sugar of any kind leads to an increase in calories...". Well, duh. consuming sugar, proteins, alcohol and carbs leads to an increase in calories. Get back to us when confirming research has been performed.-COLLAPSE