An overview of the structure and metabolism of fructose corn syrup and sucrose

There are many concerns about sucrose and HFCS metabolism and their potential health effects on human health in recent years. Also several hypotheses about the role of HFCS in obesity incidence has beenpublished which most of them are the result of studies on the US obesity rate and pure fructose-fed animals. Since then, a broad scientific consensus has emerged that there are no metabolic or endocrine response difference between HFCS and sucrose related to obesity or any other adverse health outcome.Both sucrose and HFCS55 contain equal amounts of fructose and glucose, contain the same number of calories, possess the same level of sweetness and are absorbed identically through the gastrointestinal tract. Reports about the negative effect of HFCS on human health are mostly based on comparison of pure fructose and glucose metabolism whereas pure fructose is not consumed in the human diet. Whether there is a link between sucrose and HFCS55 and increased risk of metabolic syndrome or fatty infiltration of the liver remains in dispute with different studies using different methodologies arriving at different conclusions. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current knowledge about HFCS and sucroseand their potential health effects on human health.