Comparison of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) and Sucrose (Table Sugar)
Researching healthy and unhealthy dietary habits is essential for guaranteeing societal prosperity and comfort. Lately, the debate around using high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) instead of sucrose (table sugar) has emerged both in scientific and public activism communities (Li et al., 2022).
Some studies state that the use of HFCS provokes higher rates of metabolic syndrome and obesity, which significantly harms life expectancy and quality (Khorshidian et al., 2021). Understanding the difference between the discussed compound and the common sugar is crucial in evaluating the effects of this chemical substitute on health.
The differences between HFCS and regular sucrose are primarily noticeable in the production process. Sucrose is a disaccharide, which means it consists of two monosaccharides, while HFCS is a mixture of fructose, glucose, and oligosaccharides in different proportions (Khorshidian et al., 2021; Li et al., 2022). This makes the latter more fluid and convenient for mass production, as liquids are easier to utilize. However, these chemical and physical differences are less noticeable in the metabolic processes. They go through similar reactions and are used for the same purposes: quick energy for high-demand cells. Thus, they affect the body similarly even though their structures are distinct.
Evidence from Scholar Sources
The associated health effects have reasons that can be seen in the methodologies of analyzed studies. A review by Khorshidian et al. (2021) states that the articles imply adverse outcomes of using HFCS feature pure fructose or other compounds with a high percentage of this substance. This means that the participants received a significantly larger amount of monosaccharide and dangerous elements than other products with this substitute.
A meta-analytical work by Li et al. (2022) also concluded that the dangers of HFCS and fructose, particularly, are overestimated and can be explained by flawed methodologies or excess intake. In conclusion, every part of the diet should be consumed in appropriate amounts to avoid adverse effects and long-term complications.
References
Khorshidian, N., Shadnoush, M., Zabihzadeh Khajavi, M., Sohrabvandi, S., Yousefi, M., & Mortazavian, A. M. (2021). Fructose and high fructose corn syrup: are they a two-edged sword? International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 72(5), 592–614. Web.
Li, X., Luan, Y., Li, Y., Ye, S., Wang, G., Cai, X., Liang, Y., Kord Varkaneh, H., & Luan, Y. (2022). The effect of high-fructose corn syrup vs. sucrose on anthropometric and metabolic parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9. Web.