title: Metabolic and behavioural effects of sucrose and fructose/glucose drinks in the rat.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Overconsumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, in particular carbonated soft drinks, promotes the development of overweight and obesity and is associated with metabolic disturbances, including intrahepatic fat accumulation and metabolic syndrome. One theory proposes that drinks sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup are particularly detrimental to health, as they contain fructose in its 'free' monosaccharide form. This experiment tested whether consuming 'free' fructose had a greater impact on body weight and metabolic abnormalities than when consumed 'bound' within the disaccharide sucrose.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Hooded Wistar rats were given free access for 56 days to 10% sucrose (Group Suc), 10%, 50/50 fructose/glucose (Group FrucGluc) or water control drinks (Group Control), plus chow. Caloric intake and body weights were measured throughout the protocol, and the following metabolic indices were determined between days 54 and 56: serum triglycerides, liver triglycerides, retroperitoneal fat and oral glucose tolerance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Animals with access to sugar beverages consumed 20% more calories, but did not show greater weight gain than controls. Nevertheless, they developed larger abdominal fat pads, higher triglyceride levels and exhibited impaired insulin/glucose homeostasis. Comparison of the two sugars revealed increased fasting glycaemia in the FrucGluc group, but not in Suc group, whereas the Suc group was more active in an open field.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A metabolic profile indicating increased risk of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease was observed in animals given access to sugar-sweetened beverages. Notably, 'free' fructose disrupted glucose homeostasis more than did 'bound' fructose, thus posing a greater risk of progression to type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Human Nutrition Unit, School of Molecular Bioscience, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. asheludiakova@gmail.com
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheludiakova
authors.forename: Kieron
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rooney
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Boakes
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005947:Glucose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000209:etiology; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D009043:Motor Activity; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D014280:Triglycerides; D005632:Fructose; D005947:Glucose