by Michy Lynn

Created on: February 03, 2009   Last Updated: March 01, 2009

Sugar is typically 50% fructose and 50% glucose. HFCS is typically 55% fructose and 45% glucose. Whether the slight difference in percentage is important is not known. What is known, however, is that sugar and high fructose corn syrup, while similar in composition, actually are different in the fact that HFCS has separate molecules for the fructose and glucose while sugar has glucose and fructose as a single molecule (disaccharide, made from two monosaccharides). Again, this speaks to the genetically altered composition of the HFCS.

Does this make a difference in health when consuming HFCS? That is unclear in studies, but there are studies indicating the HFCS could be one of the contributing causes for the increasing obesity epidemic in America, particularly when compared with other countries where sugar is cheaper than it is here in the U.S. (due to trade issues and tariffs.)

HFCS Causes Weight Gain?

While there is no conclusive proof HFCS causes weight gain, there is clear evidence that fructose and glucose both cause insulin reactions in the body, and insulin reactions can cause weight gain, appetite problems, and complications with diabetes. High fructose corn syrup has been directly linked to severe complications with diabetics, including increasing instances of skin ulcers, nerve problems, and eye damage. Sugar, by contrast, while not safe for a diabetic, does not show the same type of damage as caused by HFCS. (This is due to the carbonyl compounds, particularly when found in HFCS sweetened sodas.)

Unfortunately, the studies available do not know whether these complications are a cause or effect situation with the consumption of HFCS. It's also not known if the same or similar weight gain and complications with diabetes would occur if sugar were used in place of HFCS.

Depending on who funds the study, the results of the studies do appear to be biased. Two studies, one performed by a farm associated with a vested interest in selling corn products, including HFCS and another performed by a beverage company, using HFCS to sweeten their sodas, both indicate there are no increased incidences in complications with diabetes or weight gain over sugar. Studies funded by other agencies or research groups indicate there might be a correlation.

The Truth about High Fructose Corn Syrup

What both sides of the coin tend to agree upon is that HFCS is less expensive in America to use than other types of sweeteners, and as such, high fructose corn syrup is increasingly being

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