TABLE 5.
Summary of clinical trials examining the effects of high total, free, and added sugar consumption on metabolic health1
| Reference | Subjects | Study duration | Intervention | Main findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bantle et al., 2000 (115) | 24 healthy adults (50% males) | 6 wk on each diet (cross-over design) | 17% daily energy intake from fructose vs. 17% daily energy intake from glucose | 32% higher day-long plasma TG concentration in males at the end of the fructose diet period than that in the glucose diet period (P < 0.001). No similar effect was observed in females |
| Black et al., 2006 (133) | 13 healthy male subjects (mean ± SEM age, 33 ± 3 y) | 6-wk diet separated by a 4-wk washout | Low-sucrose (10% daily energy intake) vs. high-sucrose (25% daily energy intake) diet | There was no significant difference in body weight, fasting plasma glucose, fasting serum insulin, total, LDL cholesterol and TG levels, or blood pressure between groups. However, the high-sucrose group had significantly higher LDL (mean ± SEM, 2.78 ± 0.30 vs. 2.25 ± 0.25 mmol/L, respectively; P < 0.01) and total cholesterol (mean ± SEM, 4.62 ± 0.8 vs. 4.01 ± 0.80 mmol/L, respectively; P < 0.01) levels than the control group |
| Bravo et al., 2013 (131) | 80 adults (mean ± SD age, 42.2 ± 11.7 y; 56.3% males) | 10 wk | Sucrose or HFCS at 8%, 18%, or 30% daily energy intake required for weight maintenance | No significant difference between sucrose vs. HFCS treatment in the liver or muscle fat |
| Lewis et al., 2012 (135) | 13 overweight or obese but otherwise healthy adults (mean ± SEM age, 46.1 ± 1.9 y; 69.2% males) | Two 6-wk dietary periods separated by a 4-wk washout | Low-sucrose (5% daily caloric intake) vs. high-sucrose (15% daily energy intake) diet | There was no significant difference in body weight or composition, peripheral glucose utilization, lipid profiles, blood pressure, or vascular compliance between groups. However, fasting glucose was significantly higher after the high-sucrose diet compared to the control (mean ± SEM, 5.4 ± 0.2 vs. 5.0 ± 0.2 mmol/L, respectively; P < 0.01) |
1
HFCS, high-fructose corn syrup; TG, triglyceride.