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High fructose corn syrup: A recipe for hypertension
Eurekalert ^ | 10/29/09 | Shari Leventhal

Posted on 11/11/2009 11:51:56 AM PST by TennesseeGirl

Elevated dietary fructose linked to high blood pressure

A diet high in fructose increases the risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension), according to a paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology's 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, California. The findings suggest that cutting back on processed foods and beverages that contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) may help prevent hypertension.

Over the last 200 years, the rate of fructose intake has directly paralleled the increasing rate of obesity, which has increased sharply in the last 20 years since the introduction of HFCS. Today, Americans consume 30% more fructose than 20 years ago and up to four times more than 100 years ago, when obesity rates were less than 5%. While this increase mirrors the dramatic rise in the prevalence of hypertension, studies have been inconsistent in linking excess fructose in the diet to hypertension.

Diana Jalal, MD (University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center), and her colleagues studied the issue in a large representative population of US adults. They examined 4,528 adults 18 years of age or older with no prior history of hypertension. Fructose intake was calculated based on a dietary questionnaire, and foods such as fruit juices, soft drinks, bakery products, and candy were included. Dr. Jalal's team found that people who ate or drank more than 74 grams per day of fructose (2.5 sugary soft drinks per day) increased their risk of developing hypertension. Specifically, a diet of more than 74 grams per day of fructose led to a 28%, 36%, and 87% higher risk for blood pressure levels of 135/85, 140/90, and 160/100 mmHg, respectively. (A normal blood pressure reading is below 120/80 mmHg.)

"These results indicate that high fructose intake in the form of added sugars is significantly and independently associated with higher blood pressure levels in the US adult population with no previous history of hypertension," the authors concluded. Additional studies are needed to see if low fructose diets can normalize blood pressure and prevent the development of hypertension.

Study co-authors include Richard Johnson, MD, Gerard Smits, PhD, and Michel Chonchol, MD (University of Colorado Denver Health Sciences Center). Dr. Richard Johnson reports a conflict of interest as the author of "The Sugar Fix". The authors report no other financial disclosures.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Food; Health/Medicine; Science
KEYWORDS: bloodpressure; diet; fructose; health; hypertension
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The debate rages on. Of course, the corn lobbyists would have us believe the HFCS is as safe as drinking water.
1 posted on 11/11/2009 11:51:57 AM PST by TennesseeGirl
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To: TennesseeGirl

Seems that the use of corn for ethanol feedstock makes all the more sense.


2 posted on 11/11/2009 11:54:42 AM PST by Mr. Lucky
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To: TennesseeGirl
Of course, the corn lobbyists would have us believe the HFCS is as safe as drinking water.

".. but Brawndo has 'Electrolytes'!"

3 posted on 11/11/2009 11:56:00 AM PST by TexGuy (If it has the slimmest of chances of being considered sarcasm ... IT IS!)
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To: TennesseeGirl

Ya know a conspiracy kook might conclude collusion amongst agribusiness and pharmaceutical business to rape the peasants and peons here....but that would be crazy talk...


4 posted on 11/11/2009 11:58:14 AM PST by mo
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To: TennesseeGirl

People who consume lots of sugar tend to have higher blood pressure? Could it be because they tend to be fat? Duh! Sugar is sugar, despite what the diet-loons tell you.


5 posted on 11/11/2009 11:58:16 AM PST by ozzymandus
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To: ozzymandus

That’s my take on this too. I don’t see any comparison with people who ate that much refined cane sugar there...


6 posted on 11/11/2009 12:03:34 PM PST by Pessimist (u)
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To: Mr. Lucky
"High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) - A product of corn wet-milling formed when starch is enzymatically broken down to fructose and related sugars. HFCS serves as a substitute for sugar in food manufacturing."

"Corn wet milling - The process of chemically or biochemically separating corn into chemical components using water, grinding, and centrifugation. The most important separation is between the endosperm starch and protein. Primary products of wet milling include starch, gluten meal, gluten feed, and oil. Starch can be further processed into high fructose corn syrup, glucose, fructose, ethanol and other products"

Mmmm. Sounds yummy.

7 posted on 11/11/2009 12:04:22 PM PST by TennesseeGirl
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To: TennesseeGirl

Guess I'll have to cut my intake of this to just one per day.

8 posted on 11/11/2009 12:07:33 PM PST by GSWarrior
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To: TennesseeGirl

Personally I don’t like HFCS. I consume it because it’s in so many products, but generally I don’t like it. I was thinking about yogurt and how when it first started getting popular in the 70’s or 80’s, it tasted so much different. A mainstream brand not only has HFCS but sugar too.


9 posted on 11/11/2009 12:08:32 PM PST by beaversmom
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To: TexGuy

it’s what plants crave.


10 posted on 11/11/2009 12:10:10 PM PST by truthfreedom
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To: TennesseeGirl

A lot of Americans have died to keep the Fanjul family’s monopoly in place...


11 posted on 11/11/2009 12:11:21 PM PST by Mr. Jeeves ("If you cannot pick it up and run with it, you don't really own it." -- Robert Heinlein)
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To: ozzymandus

Sugar and HFCS react differently in the Liver. HFCS strains the Liver much worse than Cane Sugar.


12 posted on 11/11/2009 12:12:58 PM PST by jacksonstate
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To: ozzymandus
"Sugar is sugar, despite what the diet-loons tell you."

I'm not so sure. The High Fructose Corn syrup is already broken down. The body has to do some work to break down sugar into it's fructose/sucrose components.

Plus there is a particle (forgot it's name) that is found in the High Fructose corn syrup that is also found in the blood of diabetics that they are researching.

13 posted on 11/11/2009 12:13:41 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: TennesseeGirl

I won’t talk about safety, but a few years ago, Mrs. Springman and I went to Canada, she couldn’t believe how much better the pop, (soda) tasted.

They use real sugar, not HFCS.


14 posted on 11/11/2009 12:16:49 PM PST by Springman (Rest In Peace YaYa123)
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To: ozzymandus

>>Sugar is sugar, despite what the diet-loons tell you.<<

Do a bit of research on Diabetic diets. Look at Maltose.
You have no clue what you are talking about.


15 posted on 11/11/2009 12:16:58 PM PST by netmilsmom (Psalm 109:8 - Let his days be few; and let another take his office)
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To: TennesseeGirl

I haven’t had it in 17 years.


16 posted on 11/11/2009 12:18:25 PM PST by FTJM
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To: beaversmom

Try Cascade Fresh brand yogurt. They use fruit juice only to sweeten and their peach is the best I’ve ever had.


17 posted on 11/11/2009 12:20:47 PM PST by Roos_Girl ("Obama is Kenyan for idiot" - CC)
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To: jacksonstate
Sugar and HFCS react differently in the Liver. HFCS strains the Liver much worse than Cane Sugar.

And that's exactly part of the problem. HFCS has to pass through the liver twice to digest it. I always try to avoid HFCS but it's ubiquitous. On the other hand, while HFCS is bad for you, I bet people ingesting this much sugar are already fat with bad lipid profiles. However, no doubt HFCS exacerbates the problem and should be avoided.

18 posted on 11/11/2009 12:22:16 PM PST by Obadiah (Obama: Chains you can believe in!)
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To: jacksonstate

http://www.westonaprice.org/modernfood/highfructose.html


19 posted on 11/11/2009 12:22:28 PM PST by jacksonstate
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To: jacksonstate

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090303123802.htm


20 posted on 11/11/2009 12:23:34 PM PST by jacksonstate
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