High fructose corn syrup compared with sucrose in the body
What it found
In people, high fructose corn syrup and sucrose looked very similar in how the body handles them, with few metabolic differences found.
High fructose corn syrup still adds sugars and calories to the diet.
What they found
Studies in people
Metabolic effects compared
Few metabolic differences were found when comparing high fructose corn syrup and sucrose.
Other findings
What it is
High fructose corn syrup is very similar to sucrose. It is about 55% fructose and 45% glucose.
Sugars and calories
High fructose corn syrup does contribute to added sugars and calories in the diet.
Weight management
People concerned with managing their weight should be concerned about calories from beverages and other foods, regardless of high fructose corn syrup content.
What the authors conclude
“The data presented indicated that HFCS is very similar to sucrose, being about 55% fructose and 45% glucose, and thus, not surprisingly, few metabolic differences were found comparing HFCS and sucrose.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say that high fructose corn syrup is very similar to sucrose, being about 55% fructose and 45% glucose.
- They note that few metabolic differences were found comparing high fructose corn syrup and sucrose.
- They advise that those concerned with managing their weight should be concerned about calories from beverages and other foods, regardless of high fructose corn syrup content.
How it was done
The authors wanted to address the controversy surrounding high fructose corn syrup by bringing together up-to-date information on the ingredient.
Speakers from academia and industry presented at a 2007 symposium. They covered what high fructose corn syrup is, why it is used in food, how much of it people eat, and the latest research on its metabolic effects.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This summary is based on a symposium, not a single controlled trial, so it cannot show cause and effect.
- It does not provide details on how many people were studied or for how long.
The paper
- Title
- High-fructose corn syrup: everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Fulgoni V (2008). High-fructose corn syrup: everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask. The American journal of clinical nutrition. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2008.25825APubMed 19064535DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error