Consuming fructose-sweetened beverages increases body adiposity in mice.
OBJECTIVE
The marked increase in the prevalence of obesity in the United States has recently been attributed to the increased fructose consumption. To determine if and how fructose might promote obesity in an animal model, we measured body composition, energy intake, energy expenditure, substrate oxidation, and several endocrine parameters related to energy homeostasis in mice consuming fructose.


METHODS
We compared the effects of ad libitum access to fructose (15% solution in water), sucrose (10%, popular soft drink), and artificial sweetener (0% calories, popular diet soft drink) on adipogenesis and energy metabolism in mice.


RESULTS
Exposure to fructose water increased adiposity, whereas increased fat mass after consumption of soft drinks or diet soft drinks did not reach statistical significance (n = 9 each group). Total intake of energy was unaltered, because mice proportionally reduced their caloric intake from chow. There was a trend toward reduced energy expenditure and increased respiratory quotient, albeit not significant, in the fructose group. Furthermore, fructose produced a hepatic lipid accumulation with a characteristic pericentral pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
These data are compatible with the conclusion that a high intake of fructose selectively enhances adipogenesis, possibly through a shift of substrate use to lipogenesis.
Jürgens
Hella
H
Department of Pharmacology, German Institute of Human Nutrition, Potsdam-Rehbruecke, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, 14558 Nuthetal, Germany. juergens@mail.dife.de
Haass
Wiltrud
W
Castañeda
Tamara R
TR
Schürmann
Annette
A
Koebnick
Corinna
C
Dombrowski
Frank
F
Otto
Bärbel
B
Nawrocki
Andrea R
AR
Scherer
Philipp E
PE
Spranger
Jochen
J
Ristow
Michael
M
Joost
Hans-Georg
HG
Havel
Peter J
PJ
Tschöp
Matthias H
MH
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D000818:Animals; D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000187:drug effects; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005632:Fructose / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013549:Sweetening Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D013549:Sweetening Agents; D005632:Fructose