Scientists conclude HFCS is not the specific cause of obesity

Sept. 18, 2012, Shrewsbury, MA – A new article published
recently in the International Journal of Obesity argued there is no evidence to
suggest the current obesity epidemic in the United States can be specifically
blamed on consumption of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

The commentary concludes that after an extensive review of
all available HFCS research, there is overwhelming evidence showing HFCS is
nutritionally equivalent to sugar. The authors state that while there has been
a large amount of debate in the media about the impact of HFCS on obesity
levels, the fact is “Sucrose (sugar) and HFCS are very similar in
composition….and are absorbed identically in the human GI tract.”

“The public discussion about HFCS will likely continue to
rage on and more studies will be conducted,” said James M. Rippe, MD, founder
and director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute, and professor of biomedical sciences
at the University of Central Florida, one of the article’s authors. “However,
at this point there is simply no evidence to suggest that the use of HFCS alone
is directly responsible for increased obesity rates or other health concerns.”

The article goes on to discuss a number of research trials
that have been conducted on the issue of HFCS and obesity, and concludes that
at this time the evidence shows no short-term health differences between the
use of HFCS or sugar could be detected in humans. Weight gain, glucose levels,
insulin and appetite were not adversely affected by the use HFCS over sugar.

The commentary was co-authored with Dr. Rippe by David M.
Klurfeld, Ph.D. of the USDA Agricultural Research Service, John Foreyt, Ph.D.
of Baylor College of Medicine, and Theodore J. Angelopoulos, Ph.D., MPH
professor and director, Laboratory of Applied Physiology Department of Health
Professions at University of Central Florida.