Fructose consumption has increased dramatically in the last 40 years, and its role in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome has been implicated by many studies. It is most often encountered in the diet as sucrose (glucose and fructose) or high-fructose corn syrup (55% fructose). At high levels, dietary exposure to fructose triggers a series of metabolic changes originating in the liver, le...

This study compared the ability of nine culinary plant extracts containing a wide array of phytochemicals to inhibit fructose uptake and then explored the involvement of intestinal fructose transporters and phytochemicals for selected samples. The chemical signature was characterized by high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Inhibition of [(14)C]-fructose uptake was test...

This issue of the Journal contains another disturbing article on the biology of fructose (1). Why is fructose of concern? First, it is sweeter than either glucose or sucrose. In fruit, it serves as a marker for foods that are nutritionally rich. However, in soft drinks and other “sweets,” fructose serves to reward sweet taste that provides “calories,” often without much else in the way of nutri...

There is compelling evidence that long-term intake of excessive fructose can have deleterious side effects in different experimental models. However, the role of fructose in vivo remains controversial, since acute temporary application of fructose is found to protect yeast as well as animal tissues against exogenous oxidative stress. This review suggests the involvement of reactive carbonyl and...

BACKGROUND High dietary fructose has structural and metabolic cardiac impact, but the potential for fructose to exert direct myocardial action is uncertain. Cardiomyocyte functional responsiveness to fructose, and capacity to transport fructose has not been previously demonstrated. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to seek evidence of fructose-induced modulation of cardiomyocyte exci...

Sharma N, Li L, Ecelbarger CM. Sex differences in renal and metabolic responses to a high-fructose diet in mice. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 308: F400–F410, 2015. First published December 23, 2014; doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00403.2014.—High fructose intake has been associated with increased incidences of renal disease and hypertension, among other pathologies. Most fructose is cleared by the portal s...

Dietary fructose intake is increasing. It is increasing primarily from added sugars, including sucrose and high fructose corn syrup, and correlates epidemiologically with the rising prevalence of metabolic syndrome and hypertension worldwide. The administration of fructose to animals and humans increases BP and the development of metabolic syndrome. These changes occur independently of caloric ...

High fructose intake has been associated with increased incidences of renal disease and hypertension, among other pathologies. Most fructose is cleared by the portal system and metabolized in the liver; however, systemic levels of fructose can rise with increased consumption. We tested whether there were sex differences in the renal responses to a high-fructose diet in mice. Two-month-old male ...

Over the past three decades there has been a substantial increase in the amount of fructose consumed by North Americans. Recent evidence from rodents indicates that hippocampal insulin signaling facilitates memory and excessive fructose consumption produces hippocampal insulin resistance. Based on this evidence, the present study tested the hypothesis that a high fructose diet would impair hipp...

Although the ability of Bifidobacterium spp. to grow on fructose as a unique carbon source has been demonstrated, the enzyme(s) needed to incorporate fructose into a catabolic pathway has hitherto not been defined. This work demonstrates that intracellular fructose is metabolized via the fructose-6-P phosphoketolase pathway and suggests that a fructokinase (Frk; EC 2.7.1.4) is the enzyme that i...