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Corn syrup

What the research shows

Prototype

Concerning

in studies of people

2 of 2 health findings on this page · See the findings

A syrup made from corn starch.

It softens texture, adds volume, stops sugar crystallizing and boosts flavour.

Written from English Wikipedia1

  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

What research says

Studies in people

  • Concern

    Appetite and hunger2

    People who overate corn syrup felt hungrier the next morning than after overeating whole-wheat foods.

  • Concern

    Asthma risk in people3

    People who often drank corn syrup-sweetened soda, fruit drinks or apple juice had higher asthma risk.

Study type not stated

  • Open question

    Obesity risk4

    High-fructose corn syrup is no more to blame for obesity than other fructose-glucose sweeteners, the review found.

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.

References

  1. 1Corn syrup. Wikipedia. Accessed September 26, 2026.
  2. 2Ibrahim M, Bonfiglio S, Schlögl M, et al. Energy Expenditure and Hormone Responses in Humans After Overeating High-Fructose Corn Syrup Versus Whole-Wheat Foods. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2018;26(1):141-149. doi:10.1002/oby.22068
  3. 3DeChristopher LR, Tucker KL. Excess free fructose, high-fructose corn syrup and adult asthma: the Framingham Offspring Cohort. Br J Nutr. 2018;119(10):1157-1167. doi:10.1017/S0007114518000417
  4. 4White JS. Straight talk about high-fructose corn syrup: what it is and what it ain't. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;88(6):1716S-1721S. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.25825B