HFCS Nutrition and Health Bibliography

 See also: Is Corn A Greater Threat than Al Queda and "ose"gate

Sun SZ, Flickinger BD, Williamson-Hughes PS, Empie MW. 2010. Lack of association between dietary fructose and hyperuricemia risk in adults. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010 Mar 1; 7:16. Free access to full article.

White JS. 2009. Misconceptions about High-Fructose Corn Syrup: Is It Uniquely Responsible for Obesity, Reactive Dicarbonyl Compounds, and Advanced Glycation Endproducts? J Nutr 139(6): 1219S-1227S. Free access to full article.

Fulgoni V. 2008. High-fructose corn syrup: everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask. Am J Clin Nutr 88(6):1715S. Free access to full article.

White JS. 2008. Straight talk about high-fructose corn syrup: what it is and what it ain't. Am J Clin Nutr 88(6):1716S-1721S. Free access to full article.

Melanson KJ, Angelopoulos TJ, Nguyen V, Zukley L, Lowndes J, Rippe JM. 2008. High-fructose corn syrup, energy intake, and appetite regulation. Am J Clin Nutr 88(6):1738S-1744S. Free access to full article.

Soenen S and Westerterp-Plantenga MS. 2007. No differences in satiety or energy intake after high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, or milk preloads. Am J Clin Nutr 86(6):1586-1594. Free access to full article.
  See also:  Is Corn a Greater Threat than Al Queda and "ose"gate
Akhavan T. and Anderson GH. 2007. Effects of glucose-to-fructose ratios in solutions on subjective satiety, food intake, and satiety hormones in young men. Am J Clin Nut 86(5) 1354-1363. Free access to full article.

Forshee RA, Storey ML, Allison DB, Glinsmann WH, Hein GL, Lineback DR, Miller SA, Nicklas TA, Weaver GA, White JS. 2007. A Critical Examination of the Evidence Relating High Fructose Corn Syrup and Weight Gain. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 47(6):561-582. Free access to full article.

Sun SZ, Empie MW. 2007. Lack of findings for the association between obesity risk and usual sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in adults - A primary analysis of databases of CSFII-1989-1991, CSFII-1994-1998, NHANES III, and combined
NHANES 1999-2002. Food Chem Toxicol 45(8):1523-1536. Free access to full article.

Monsivais P, Perrigue MM, Drewnowski A. 2007. Sugars and satiety: does the type of sweetener make a difference? Am J Clin Nutr 86(1):116-123. Free access to full article.

Lowndes J, et al. June 2007. The Effect of High-Fructose Corn Syrup on Uric Acid Levels in Normal Weight Women. Presented at the June 2007 meeting of The Endocrine Society. Program Abstract #P2-45. Abstract available.

Zukley L, et al. June 2007. The Effect of High Fructose Corn Syrup on Post-Prandial Lipemia in Normal Weight Females. Presented at the June 2007 meeting of The Endocrine Society. Program Abstract #P2-46. Abstract available.

Melanson KJ, Zukley L, Lowndes J, Nguyen V, Angelopoulos TJ, Rippe JM. 2007. Effects of high-fructose corn syrup and sucrose consumption on circulating glucose, insulin, leptin, and ghrelin and on appetite in normal-weight women. Nutrition 23(2):103-112. Free access to full article.

Schorin MD. 2006. High Fructose Corn Syrups, Part 2: Health Effects. Nutrition Today 41(2):70-77. Abstract available.
Schorin MD. 2005. High Fructose Corn Syrups, Part 1: Composition, Consumption, and Metabolism. Nutrition Today 40(6):248-252. Abstract available.

Hein GL, Storey ML, White JS, Lineback DR. 2005. Highs and Lows of High Fructose Corn Syrup: A Report from the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy and Its Ceres Workshop. Nutrition Today 40(6):253-256. Abstract available.

Is Corn a Greater Threat Than Al-Queda? Ask Joe Biden.

Last Friday a caller into the Rush Limbaugh show makes the following statements:

"I am a student a Murray State University as a biology major, and I was in biochemistry this morning, and there was an emphasis on discussing the regulation by the government of sugar, and particularly fructose. So he had us read an article, and I'll read you a quote from the article.  It said, "If international bodies are truly concerned about public health, they must consider limiting fructose ... to individuals and to society as a whole." They had five suggestions how to do this.  They said we need to reduce the hours retailers are open, control the location of retail markets, tighten the licensing requirements on vending machines in schools and workplaces, designate an age limit on who can buy the fructose (they suggest age of 17), and then their last suggestion is the doubling of the price through taxation.  And, you know, I just sat there in class thinking: "My goodness, you know, how brainwashed do people have to get to push this?"


This is a prime example of the phenomena that I have dubbed 'ose' gate.(http://ageconomist.blogspot.com/2010/09/osegate.html) This has almost reached the levels of a consipiracy theory that modern family corn farmers are producing unhealthy, toxic food additives, and in the process, destroying the planet.  I would agree with the student, it appears that they were potentially on the receiving end of brainwashing and propaganda, probably in the name of infusing sustainability into the curriculum by a professor coming down with a case of Dunning Kreuger. It could be, perhaps, that the professor thought what they were doing was an innocent and innovative attempt to get students interested in biochemistry by presenting an application of what's going on in the classroom. However, I would think that they could have provided additional references or students to weigh in comparison to such extreme policy proposals presented in the article.

What's even more shocking are these words from vice president Joe Biden: 

 I think its just a symptom of general ignorance about where food comes from and how it is produced. The locavore movement and writers like Michael Pollan both seem to be bringing food to the forefront of people's minds. But reading his books or buying from the local farmers market isn't getting the job done. In fact, these venues could at times also be dens of ignorance and misconception as much as a place to educate consumers. Its important that producers of all types and scale as well as all other industry affiliates do their part to clearly communicate what's going on in the industry from gate to plate.

References:

The Rush Limbaugh Show. Friday March 2, 2012.

Sun SZ, Flickinger BD, Williamson-Hughes PS, Empie MW. 2010. Lack of association between dietary fructose and hyperuricemia risk in adults. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010 Mar 1; 7:16. Free access to full article.

White JS. 2009. Misconceptions about High-Fructose Corn Syrup: Is It Uniquely Responsible for Obesity, Reactive Dicarbonyl Compounds, and Advanced Glycation Endproducts? J Nutr 139(6): 1219S-1227S. Free access to full article.

Fulgoni V. 2008. High-fructose corn syrup: everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask. Am J Clin Nutr 88(6):1715S. Free access to full article.

White JS. 2008. Straight talk about high-fructose corn syrup: what it is and what it ain't. Am J Clin Nutr 88(6):1716S-1721S. Free access to full article.

Melanson KJ, Angelopoulos TJ, Nguyen V, Zukley L, Lowndes J, Rippe JM. 2008. High-fructose corn syrup, energy intake, and appetite regulation. Am J Clin Nutr88(6):1738S-1744S. Free access to full article.

Soenen S and Westerterp-Plantenga MS. 2007. No differences in satiety or energy intake after high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, or milk preloads. Am J Clin Nutr86(6):1586-1594. Free access to full article.

Akhavan T. and Anderson GH. 2007. Effects of glucose-to-fructose ratios in solutions on subjective satiety, food intake, and satiety hormones in young men. Am J Clin Nut 86(5) 1354-1363. Free access to full article.

Forshee RA, Storey ML, Allison DB, Glinsmann WH, Hein GL, Lineback DR, Miller SA, Nicklas TA, Weaver GA, White JS. 2007. A Critical Examination of the Evidence Relating High Fructose Corn Syrup and Weight Gain. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 47(6):561-582. Free access to full article.

Sun SZ, Empie MW. 2007. Lack of findings for the association between obesity risk and usual sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in adults - A primary analysis of databases of CSFII-1989-1991, CSFII-1994-1998, NHANES III, and combined

NHANES 1999-2002. Food Chem Toxicol 45(8):1523-1536. Free access to full article.

Monsivais P, Perrigue MM, Drewnowski A. 2007. Sugars and satiety: does the type of sweetener make a difference? Am J Clin Nutr 86(1):116-123. Free access to full article.

Lowndes J, et al. June 2007. The Effect of High-Fructose Corn Syrup on Uric Acid Levels in Normal Weight Women. Presented at the June 2007 meeting of The Endocrine Society. Program Abstract #P2-45. Abstract available.

Zukley L, et al. June 2007. The Effect of High Fructose Corn Syrup on Post-Prandial Lipemia in Normal Weight Females. Presented at the June 2007 meeting of The Endocrine Society. Program Abstract #P2-46. Abstract available.

"ose"gate: Five Misperceptions About HFCS

I was having a conversation with someone recently about Sara Lee replacing their High Fructose Corn Syrup ingredient with ‘High Fructose’ table/cane/beet sugar, and they coined the phrase “ose” gate. I thought that summed it up well.

So what is the “ose” gate? It is a combination of misunderstandings/misperceptions/misinformation that are plainly scandalous. 

The Sugar Switcheroo

First it is the ‘sugar switcheroo.' Unfortunately, many people confuse the compound fructose with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Even worse, because it is “high fructose” corn syrup, they think that it is a sweetener that is really high in fructose compared to others. The undeniable truth is the fructose levels in HFCS are not that different from table sugar. Its 55%. But sugar is also 50% fructose. So, if fructose is bad, then HFCS and regular sugar are equally bad on the grand scheme of things. It is all in a name. If we are comparing sweeteners based on fructose content, we could just as easily call table sugar “High Fructose” table sugar- or ‘HFTS.’ The scandalous part is that food marketers are catering to this ignorance by advertising that they have removed HFCS from their foods and switched it with sugar. It makes no tangible difference in terms of fructose content or calories, and consumers are being duped by the old ‘switcheroo.’

Big Fat Lies

So, if it makes no tangible difference in fructose content, or calories, then it likely will make no difference on obesity rates. That brings us to the ‘big fat lies’ myth. In the media and on social media folks often like to claim that the massive use of HFCS is leading to obesity, but advocating that we replace it with HFTS (my new acronym). It makes no sense, but anti-agricultural activists and politicians are making hay with it. (1) Besides that, according to USDA data, the most abundant sweeteners in American's diets is not HFCS but HFTS (2) (both are about equal but HFTS as aways had the lead). Simply switching one for the other isn't expected to have any impact on obesity rates (1). The goal should be healthier eating not subbing in and out different types of sugar.

The Subsidy Scape Goat

Then there are the attacks on farm programs, which sometimes comes from both democrats and republicans. Those on the left don’t like the idea of subsidizing politically incorrect (i.e. modern) farming practices (more on this later) and some from the right like to point out unintended consequences of government policies. The misconception is that subsidies lead to more corn production and cheaper HFCS and then cheaper high calorie foods- that lead to obesity. (I’ve already addressed obesity). Research from UC Davis blows this myth out of the water. If we get rid of all corn subsidies the impact on corn production would not be large enough to have a major impact on retail prices or consumption (they estimated the impact on would decrease consumption by at most .2%) (3) Subsidies , which amount to less than ½ of 1% of our federal budget become a scape goat for all of our problems. Absolutely our trade and tariff policies favor HFCS but that is a different matter altogether. 

The Dilemma of the Omnivore's Dilemma

Next, there is the dilemma of the Omnivore’s Dilemma:

“If you eat industrially, you are made of corn. It holds together your McNuggets, it sweetens your soda pop, it fattens your meat, it is everywhere. It is fed to us in many forms, because it is cheap- a dollar buys you 875 calories in soda pop but only 170 in fruit juice. A McDonalds meal was analyzed as almost entirely corn."-Michael Pollan Omnivore's Dilemma (4)

The fact that modern family farmers are able to feed the world in so many different ways and do it cheaply should be acknowledged as a miracle. We are talking about first world problems here in terms of having a safe abundant food supply unprecedented when compared to any other time in history. That doesn't preclude making healthier food choices, but it's certainly not an indictment of HFCS in comparison to any other sweetener. 

Anti-Capitalist Propaganda

Finally, there is the myth that HFCS is the product of industrial agriculture and industrial farms, which are unsustainable and are having a negative impact on our environment. These beliefs have made modern family farming practices politically incorrect, or socially irresponsible in the minds of many consumers and politicians. According to USDA data, 98% of all farms in the U.S. are family farms and they account for 85% of all production.(5) Large family farms are more diversified (5) and benefit the community according to recent research at Iowa State(6). In terms of sustainability, the technology used on modern family farms has led to drastic reductions in greenhouse gases, decreased soil erosion, decreased groundwater pollution, improved water use efficiency, and has increased wildlife diversity and food safety. (7). Ultimately the attacks on HFCS are leveled at capitalism, technological advancement, and market innovations that allow us to provide the safest most sustainable food in the history of the world.  Policy proposals suggested to curb HFCS consumption could only make a central planner's dream come true including: 

a) reducing the hours retailers are open

b) controlling the location of retail markets

c) tightening the licensing requirements on vending machines in schools and workplaces

d) designating an age limit on who can buy the fructose

e) doubling of the price through taxation.

So, there you have it -  5 ‘sweet’ scams  or misperceptions that define what I am calling"ose"gate:

1) The Sugar Switcheroo 
2) Big Fat Lies 
3) The Subsidy Scape Goat 
4) The Dilemma of the Omnivore’s Dilemma
5) Anti-Capitalist Propaganda

References:

1 Adolescent beverage habits and changes in weight over time: findings from Project EAT1,2,3Am J Clin Nutr (October 28, 2009). doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.27573
Nutrition July-August 2007, Volume 23, Issues 7-8, Pages 557-563 "Is sugar-sweetened beverage consumption associated with increased fatness in children?"
2 http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Sugar/data/table49.xls
3 Farm Subsidies and Obesity in the United States
Julian M. Alston, Daniel A. Sumner, and Stephen A. Vosti
Agricultural Resource Economics Update
V. 11 no. Nov/Dec 007
U.C. Davis
4 http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/food_fight_is_c.php
5 Structure and Finances of U.S. Farms: Family Farm Report, 2007 Edition / EIB-24 Economic Research Service/USDA
6 Large Agriculture Improves Rural Iowa Communities
http://www.soc.iastate.edu/newsletter/sapp.html
7 Matt Bogard. "Sustainable Agriculture Bibliography" 2010 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/matt_bogard/6