US researchers have claimed that a cheap type of sugar used in many thousands of food products and soft drinks can adversely affect human metabolism and is aiding the obesity crisis.
The University of California study team claim that fructose, a corn-derived sweetener, can cause dangerous growths of fat cells around vital organs. Fructose has increasingly been utilised as a substitute for more expensive types of sugar in cakes, yoghurts, cereals and salad dressing.
The 16 volunteers were placed on a strictly controlled diet over a ten week period, including high levels of fructose. New fat cells began to appear around their heart, liver and other digestive organs. They also showed signs food processsing difficulties related to diabetes and heart disease .
Another group of volunteers were put on the same diet, however, glucose sugar replaced fructose, and they did not experience these problems.
Individuals in both groups gained more or less the same amount of weight.
The researchers forecast that in the long term levels of weight gain among the fructose consumers would be greater.
Further research related to fructose and its apparent links with obesity would be extremely helpful
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