ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- There is no credible scientific evidence to justify singling out high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) as a unique contributor to obesity, finds a new report released today by the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy at Virginia Tech-National Capital Region.
The findings are the result of a scientific workshop on high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and were presented at a breakfast hosted by Virginia Tech at the Institute of Food Technologists convention in Las Vegas.
"There is simply no credible scientific evidence that HFCS is the cause of rising overweight/obesity rates," said Maureen Storey, Director of the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy (CFNP). "Overweight and obesity is a serious worldwide health problem and better research is needed to effectively prevent
unhealthy weight gain. Unfortunately, recent published commentaries and studies on HFCS have only confused the issue and misinformed the public with regard to a key public health problem."
The Ceres(R) Workshop on The Highs and Lows of High Fructose Corn Syrup held on May 10, 2004, was co-sponsored by the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, University of Maryland and included leading experts on nutritive sweeteners, carbohydrate chemistry, and human metabolism. Among the scientists in attendance were Walter Glinsmann, M.D., former Associate Director of Clinical Nutrition for the FDA's Division of Nutrition, G. Harvey Anderson, Ph.D., University of Toronto, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, David Lineback, Ph.D., University of Maryland, Director, Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Kristine Clark, Ph.D., RD, FACSM, Pennsylvania State University, Director Sports Nutrition, Marilyn Schorin, Ph.D., R.D. formerly President, Focus Nutrition, LLC, John S. White, Ph.D., Founder and Principal, WHITE Technical Research, Richard Forshee, Ph.D., Virginia Tech, Director of Research, Center for Food and Nutrition Policy, and Maureen Storey, Ph.D., Virginia Tech, Director of the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy.
"The composition of HFCS, sucrose, honey, and invert sugar is very similar. In addition, there is no reason to believe that humans absorb or metabolize HFCS any differently than sucrose," said David Lineback, Director of the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
The scientific roundtable examined several aspects of HFCS, including the composition and manufacturing of the sweetener, a review of the scientific literature, and an examination and discussion of questions about consumption patterns and possible health outcomes.
"Commentaries that suggest HFCS is a unique contributor to obesity are doing a disservice, especially from a public policy perspective. There are already too few resources available to address the [obesity] issue, and we cannot afford to divert public policy attention toward agenda-driven theories
that are unsound scientifically," Storey said.
Key Conclusions Reported From the Ceres(R) Workshop
* HFCS and sucrose (table sugar) are virtually the same in composition and metabolism. At this time, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that the body utilizes either HFCS-42 or HFCS-55 any differently than sucrose, invert sugar, or honey.
* A study(1) published earlier this year that alleged a link between HFCS and type 2 diabetes was flawed. It is unfortunate that Gross, et. al. mistakenly identified the object of their report as 'corn syrup.' Corn syrup is a commodity ingredient compositionally and functionally very different from HFCS. It is non-sweet, comprised only of glucose, used primarily for its food thickening ability and contains no fructose.
* Type 2 diabetes has been consistently linked to obesity, not to consumption of sweeteners. Moreover, energy imbalance and weight gain arises from too few calories expended in physical activity and excess consumption of calories.
* A commentary(2) published this year suggesting that consumption of beverages containing HFCS may be a factor in the overweight/obesity epidemic was also flawed. Although soft drink manufacturers have
replaced sucrose with HFCS over the past few decades, the number of kilocalories per 100 gram serving has not significantly increased since 1963. Bray, et. al. hypothesize that beverages containing HFCS are 'sweeter' than beverages containing sucrose. The authors suggest that cravings for these sweeter beverages have led to their over-consumption, resulting in an increase in the rate of overweight/obesity. However, expert sensory panels have demonstrated that sucrose and HFCS are
'isosweet' -- equally sweet. Since HFCS is no sweeter than sucrose, an increase in the 'sweetness level' of soft drinks cannot explain Bray's purported over-consumption.
* No database currently contains a direct measure of HFCS in the U.S. food supply. Because all measures of HFCS in food products are based on estimates or consumption trends, it is impossible to infer a causal relationship between HFCS consumption and overweight/obesity through so-called ecological statistical studies. Relying entirely on aggregate data as is evident in the Gross et. al and the Bray et. al. studies can lead to erroneous conclusions called 'ecological
fallacies.'
The Center for Food and Nutrition Policy (CNFP) is an independent research and education center affiliated with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and is located in Alexandria, Virginia. The mission of CFNP is to advance rational, science-based food and nutrition
policy. Through its research, outreach, and teaching programs, the center examines complex and often contentious issues facing government policymakers, regulators, agribusinesses, and food manufacturers. CFNP is recognized as a center of excellence in food and nutrition policy by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
For a copy of the report from the Ceres(R) Workshop on the Highs and Lows of High Fructose Corn Syrup, go to http://www.ceresnet.org/outreach.cfm and to schedule an interview with Dr. Storey, contact Charlie Stott at 540-231-6676, or after 5 pm EDT call 540-552-5669.
(1) Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79:774-9
(2) Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79:537-43
SOURCE Virginia Tech
Web Site: http://www.ceresnet.org/outreach.cfm