Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Davis, California » Western Human Nutrition Research Center » Obesity and Metabolism Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #233573

Title: Endocrine and metabolic effects of consuming fructose- and glucose-sweetened beverages with meals in obese men and women: Influence of insulin resistance on plasma triglyceride responses

Author
item TEFF, KAREN - MONELL CHEM. SENSES CNT
item GRUDZIAK, JOANNE - MONELL CHEM. SENSES CNT.
item TOWNSEND, RAYMOND - UNIV. PENNSYLVANIA
item DUNN, TAMARA - UC DAVIS, NUTRITION
item GRANT, RYAN - UC DAVIS, NUTRITION
item Adams, Sean
item Keim, Nancy
item CUMMINGS, BETHANY - UCD NUTR., & UCDMC
item STANHOPE, KIMBER - UCD NUTR., & UCDMC
item HAVEL, PETER - UCD NUTR., & UCDMC

Submitted to: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/3/2009
Publication Date: 2/10/2009
Citation: Teff, K.L., Grudziak, J., Townsend, R.R., Dunn, T.N., Grant, R.W., Adams, S.H., Keim, N.L., Cummings, B.P., Stanhope, K.L., Havel, P.J. 2009. Endocrine and metabolic effects of consuming fructose- and glucose-sweetened beverages with meals in obese men and women: Influence of insulin resistance on plasma triglyceride responses. J. Clin Endocrinol Metab. 94(5):1562-1959.

Interpretive Summary: Context: Compared with glucose-sweetened beverages, consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages with meals elevates postprandial plasma triglycerides and lowers 24-h insulin and leptin profiles in normal weight women. The effects of fructose, compared with glucose, ingestion on metabolic profiles in obese subjects has not been studied. Objective: Compare the effects of fructose and glucose-sweetened beverages consumed with meals on hormones and metabolic substrates in obese subjects. Design and Setting: Within subject design conducted in the Clinical and Translational Research Center. Participants: 17 obese men (n=9) and women (n=8), BMI >30 kg/m2. Interventions: Subjects were studied under two conditions involving ingestion of mixed nutrient meals with either glucose-sweetened beverages or fructose-sweetened beverages. The beverages provided 30% of total kilocalories. Blood samples were collected over 24-h. Main Outcome Measures: Area under the curve (24 h AUC) for glucose, lactate, insulin, leptin, ghrelin, uric acid, triglycerides (TGs), and free fatty acids. Results: Compared with glucose-sweetened beverages, fructose consumption was associated with lower AUCs for insulin (1052.6 ± 135.1 vs 549.2 ± 79.7 µU/ml . 23 h, p<0.001), leptin (151.9 ± 22.7 vs. 107.0 ± 15.0 ng/ml . 24 h, p<0.03) and increased AUC for TG (242.3 ± 96.8 vs 704.3 ± 124.4 mg/dl . 24 h, p< 0.0001). Insulin resistant subjects exhibited larger 24 h TG profiles (p<0.03). Conclusions: In obese subjects, consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages with meals was associated with less insulin secretion, blunted diurnal leptin profiles and increased postprandial TG concentrations compared with glucose consumption. Increases of TG were augmented in obese subjects with insulin resistance, suggesting that fructose consumption may exacerbate an already adverse metabolic profile present in many obese subjects.

Technical Abstract: Context: Compared with glucose-sweetened beverages, consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages with meals elevates postprandial plasma triglycerides and lowers 24-h insulin and leptin profiles in normal weight women. The effects of fructose, compared with glucose, ingestion on metabolic profiles in obese subjects has not been studied. Objective: Compare the effects of fructose and glucose-sweetened beverages consumed with meals on hormones and metabolic substrates in obese subjects. Design and Setting: Within subject design conducted in the Clinical and Translational Research Center. Participants: 17 obese men (n=9) and women (n=8), BMI >30 kg/m2. Interventions: Subjects were studied under two conditions involving ingestion of mixed nutrient meals with either glucose-sweetened beverages or fructose-sweetened beverages. The beverages provided 30% of total kilocalories. Blood samples were collected over 24-h. Main Outcome Measures: Area under the curve (24 h AUC) for glucose, lactate, insulin, leptin, ghrelin, uric acid, triglycerides (TGs), and free fatty acids. Results: Compared with glucose-sweetened beverages, fructose consumption was associated with lower AUCs for insulin (1052.6 ± 135.1 vs 549.2 ± 79.7 µU/ml . 23 h, p<0.001), leptin (151.9 ± 22.7 vs. 107.0 ± 15.0 ng/ml . 24 h, p<0.03) and increased AUC for TG (242.3 ± 96.8 vs 704.3 ± 124.4 mg/dl . 24 h, p< 0.0001). Insulin resistant subjects exhibited larger 24 h TG profiles (p<0.03). Conclusions: In obese subjects, consumption of fructose-sweetened beverages with meals was associated with less insulin secretion, blunted diurnal leptin profiles and increased postprandial TG concentrations compared with glucose consumption. Increases of TG were augmented in obese subjects with insulin resistance, suggesting that fructose consumption may exacerbate an already adverse metabolic profile present in many obese subjects.