title: Fructose-containing sugars and cardiovascular disease.
abstract: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the single largest cause of mortality in the United States and worldwide. Numerous risk factors have been identified for CVD, including a number of nutritional factors. Recently, attention has been focused on fructose-containing sugars and their putative link to risk factors for CVD. In this review, we focus on recent studies related to sugar consumption and cardiovascular risk factors including lipids, blood pressure, obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome. We then examine the scientific basis for competing recommendations for sugar intake. We conclude that although it appears prudent to avoid excessive consumption of fructose-containing sugars, levels within the normal range of human consumption are not uniquely related to CVD risk factors with the exception of triglycerides, which may rise when simple sugars exceed 20% of energy per day, particularly in hypercaloric settings.
authors.affiliation: Rippe Lifestyle Institute, Shrewsbury, MA; Rippe Lifestyle Research Institute of Florida, Celebration, FL; and Department of Biomedical Sciences and jrippe@rippelifestyle.com.
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rippe
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Applied Physiology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.
authors.forename: Theodore J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Angelopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005632:Fructose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D005632:Fructose
keywords: fructose; high-fructose corn sugar; metabolism; sucrose; sugars