Glucose-fructose syrup

Studies in people

• Open question

  Blood sugar and fats²

  In studies, glucose-fructose syrup and table sugar changed blood sugar, fats, and appetite the same.

• No harm found

  Obesity link³

  In people, glucose-fructose syrup is not uniquely responsible for obesity, researchers concluded.

• Open question

  Blood sugar and insulin⁴

  Studies found glucose-fructose syrup and sucrose gave similar blood sugar and insulin responses in people.

• Concern

  Weight gain and obesity⁵

  In US studies, eating more high-fructose corn syrup over time tracked with rising obesity, and it may add to weight gain.

• Open question

  Weight gain and appetite⁶

  Scientists do not yet know whether glucose-fructose syrup affects weight over the long term.

• Concern

  Obesity and diabetes risk⁷

  In people, drinks sweetened with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup are linked to obesity, diabetes and fatty liver.

• Concern

  Blood fats and weight⁸

  In people, fructose-sweetened drinks raised blood fats more than glucose-sweetened drinks.

• Concern

  Asthma risk from sweet drinks⁹

  In adults, more high-fructose corn syrup-sweetened soda, fruit drinks or apple juice was linked to higher asthma risk.

• Concern

  Type 2 diabetes risk¹⁰

  In countries where high fructose corn syrup was more available, type 2 diabetes was more common, even after accounting for obesity.

• Concern

  Blood sodium levels¹¹

  In US adults, drinking more high fructose corn syrup soft drinks was linked to higher blood sodium.

• Concern

  Blood sugar in diabetes¹²

  In six people with diabetes, a meal with high-fructose corn syrup raised blood sugar more than one with fructose.

• Concern

  Blood sugar control¹³

  In young adults, fructose in drinks harmed liver insulin sensitivity, while glucose harmed muscle insulin sensitivity more.

Animal and lab studies only

• Concern

  Cancer risk¹⁴

  In animal studies, glucose-fructose syrup sped up tumour growth in colorectal, breast and melanoma models, even without obesity.

• Concern

  Male fertility¹⁵

  In animal studies, long-term high-fructose corn syrup lowered sperm count and damaged testicle tissue in rats.

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 one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. 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.