| Fructose is a natural, simple sugar commonly found in | | | | Fructose differs in several ways from glucose, the |
| fruits and honey. Fructose is the sugar found naturally | | | | other half of the sucrose (sugar) molecule. Fructose |
| in fruits. Man-made fructose is used as a sweetener | | | | is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract by a |
| in many foods, including baby food and drinks. | | | | different mechanism than that for glucose. Fructose |
| Fructose supplements given within one hour of birth | | | | is a natural sugar found in many fruits and vegetables. |
| increased the concentration of plasma fructose, | | | | Table sugar, or sucrose, is half fructose and half |
| whereas supplements given at 96 hours after birth | | | | glucose. |
| had little effect on the sugar concentrations. The | | | | Fructose and other sugars are carbohydrates, an |
| effect of lactose supplements also changed with | | | | important source of energy for the body. |
| maturity. | | | | Fructose-fed subjects lose minerals. They had higher |
| Fructose is used as a substitute for sucrose | | | | fecal excretions of iron and magnesium than did |
| (common sugar) because it is less expensive and has | | | | subjects fed sucrose. Fructose is a different story. It |
| little effect on measured blood glucose levels. Often | | | | "appears to behave more like fat with respect to the |
| Fructose is consumed as high fructose corn syrup | | | | hormones involved in body weight regulation," |
| which is corn syrup (glucose) which has been | | | | explains Peter Havel, associate professor of nutrition |
| enzymatically treated, by the enzyme glucose | | | | at the University of California, Davis. |
| isomerase, to convert a portion of the glucose into | | | | Fructose does not stimulate insulin release and it does |
| fructose thus making it sweeter. | | | | not directly increase blood glucose levels. As such, a |
| Fructose is metabolized differently from other sugars. | | | | high fructose diet would result in lower elevation of |
| A fructose load leads to accumulation of | | | | blood glucose as well as less insulin release. |
| fructose-1-phosphate in cells, which may partially | | | | Fructose, along with glucose, occurs in fruits, honey, |
| deplete intracellular ATP levels in susceptible | | | | and syrups; it also occurs in certain vegetables. It is a |
| individuals. | | | | component, along with glucose, of the disaccharide |
| Fructose occurs naturally in foods, such as apples and | | | | sucrose, or common table sugar. Fructose converts |
| pears, and as Rao pointed out, people have been | | | | to fat more than any other sugar. It is also known to |
| eating it for generations. However, what has changed | | | | raise triglycerides significantly. |
| in recent decades is that many people in the United | | | | Fructose malabsorption occurs due to the body's lack |
| States eat vastly more fructose and in a purer form | | | | of fructase, an enzyme normally produced by the |
| rather than mixed with other sugars. | | | | small intestine. In IBS patients, there is evidence to |
| Fructose is commonly called "fruit sugar" because it is | | | | suggest that more rapid small intestinal transit could |
| the main sugar in many fruits. However, fructose is | | | | deliver unabsorbed nutrients to the colon and hence |
| now produced from corn syrup, which is derived | | | | lead to an increased gas production, causing pain and |
| from corn. | | | | diarrhea. |