Elevated serum triglyceride and retinol-binding protein 4 levels associated with fructose-sweetened beverages in adolescents.
BACKGROUND
The metabolic effect of fructose in sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) has been linked to de novo lipogenesis and uric acid (UA) production.


OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the biological effects of SSB consumption on serum lipid profiles and retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) among Taiwanese adolescents.


METHODS
We evaluated the anthropometric parameters and biochemical outcomes of 200 representative adolescents (98 boys and 102 girls) who were randomly selected from a large-scale cross-sectional study. Data were analyzed using multiple regression models adjusted for covariates.


RESULTS
Increased SSB consumption was associated with increased waist and hip circumferences, body mass index (BMI) values and serum UA, triglyceride (TG) and RBP4 levels. Adolescents who consumed >500 ml/day of beverages half-to-heavily sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) exhibited TG and RBP4 levels 22.7 mg/dl and 13.92 ng/ml higher than non-drinkers, respectively. HFCS drinkers with hyperuricemia had higher TG levels than HFCS drinkers with normal UA levels (98.6 vs. 81.6 mg/dl). The intake of HFCS-rich SSBs and high value of BMI (≥24) interactively reinforced RBP4 levels among overweight/obese adolescents. Circulating RBP4 levels were significantly correlated with weight-related outcomes and TG and UA concentration among HFCS drinkers (r = 0.253 to 0.404), but not among non-drinkers.


CONCLUSIONS
High-quantity HFCS-rich beverage consumption is associated with higher TG and RBP4 levels. Hyperuricemia is likely to intensify the influence of HFCS-rich SSB intake on elevated TG levels, and in overweight and obese adolescents, high BMI may modify the action of fructose on higher circulating levels of RBP4.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan ; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Te-Fu
TF
Chan
Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Wei-Ting
WT
Lin
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Yi-Ling
YL
Chen
Department of Oral Hygiene, College of Dental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Hsiao-Ling
HL
Huang
Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Wei-Zeng
WZ
Yang
Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan ; Department of Family Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chun-Ying
CY
Lee
Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Meng-Hsueh
MH
Chen
Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Tsu-Nai
TN
Wang
Department of Public Health and Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan ; Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Meng-Chuan
MC
Huang
Health Policy and Systems Management Program, Health Sciences Center, School of Public Health, Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America.
Yu-Wen
YW
Chiu
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chun-Chi
CC
Huang
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Sharon
S
Tsai
Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chih-Lung
CL
Lin
Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Chien-Hung
CH
Lee
D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma / Q000378:metabolism*; D013624:Taiwan; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
C101326:RBP4 protein, human; D054839:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Plasma; D014280:Triglycerides; D005632:Fructose