Corn

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Muscle building after eating³

  In young men, eating corn protein built muscle just as well as milk protein did.

• Benefit

  Antioxidants in baked goods⁴

  Polvorones made with whole blue corn had more antioxidants and were liked better than wheat ones.

• Benefit

  Blood sugar after meals⁵

  In people, swapping half the carbs for corn fiber led to lower blood sugar and insulin than maltodextrin.

Study type not stated

• Concern

  Snack food chemical risk⁶

  Corn chips, popcorn and corn flakes can contain acrylamide, a chemical formed when corn is heated.

• Concern

  Liver and esophageal cancer⁷

  Corn can carry aflatoxins and fumonisins, tied to liver and esophageal cancer, but studies don't show organic corn is safer.

• Open question

  Blood sugar and heart health⁸

  In five studies, high fructose corn syrup and table sugar changed blood sugar, fats, and appetite the same.

How it’s made and used

• Antioxidants in food⁹

  Blue corn contains natural color compounds called anthocyanins, and scientists found one type in it that they had not seen before.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.