Potential role of sugar (fructose) in the epidemic of hypertension, obesity and the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease1,2,3
Richard J Johnson, Mark S Segal, Yuri Sautin, Takahiko Nakagawa, Daniel I Feig, Duk-Hee Kang, Michael S Gersch, Steven Benner and Laura G Sánchez-Lozada
1 From the Division of Nephrology and Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL (RJJ, MSS, YS, TN, and MSG); the Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (DIF); the Division of Nephrology, Ewha Woman's University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (D-HK); the Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution, Gainesville, FL (SB); and the Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia Ignacio Chavez, Mexico City, Mexico (LGS-L)
2 Supported by NIH grants DK-52121, HL-68607, and HL-79352 (to RJJ) and by a grant from the Korea Health 21 R&D Project, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (A050626; to D-HK).
3 Address reprint requests to RJ Johnson, CG-98, 1600 Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32610
This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ajcn.org/content/86/4/899.full#R40
In this review of sugar and it's role in epidemic of hypertension, obesity and the metabolic syndrome, diabetes, kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease Johnson found evidence of many associations including:
(a) There are striking associations between sugar intake and the epidemic of cardiorenal disease. For example, obesity was initially seen primarily in the wealthy, who would have been the only ones able to afford sugar.
(b) The first documentation of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity occurred in the very countries (England, France, and Germany) where sugar first became available to the public.
(c) The rise in sugar intake in the United Kingdom and the United States also correlates with the rise in obesity rates observed in these countries.
(d) The later introduction of sugar to developing countries also correlates with the later rise in their rates of obesity and heart disease.
(e) A series of studies linked the ingestion of soft drinks to obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
(f) A series of studies linked the consumption of fruit juice and fruit punch to obesity in children.
(g) Clinical studies have confirmed that sucrose (and particularly fructose) can induce weight gain, features of the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance.
(h) One unique aspect of fructose is that it is the only sugar that raises uric acid concentrations which may induce gout and heart disease.
AMAZON UK Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- And How You Can Get Back on Track
AMAZON USA Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and How YouCan Get Back on Track
