Corn syrup and table sugar effects on blood markers in five studies
What it found
Across five studies, high fructose corn syrup and table sugar made no difference to blood sugar, fat levels or appetite.
Pure fructose raised fat levels.
What they found
Studies in people
Blood sugar and appetite
No difference was found between table sugar and high fructose corn syrup for changes in blood sugar or appetite across the five studies.
Fat levels in blood
Table sugar and high fructose corn syrup did not differ in their effect on fat levels in the blood. But when only fructose was consumed, fat levels rose significantly.
Other findings
Fructose in both sweeteners
The authors note that fructose is present in both table sugar and high fructose corn syrup. They say this shared ingredient has a negative effect on health outcomes.
What the authors conclude
- They suggest that clinicians should teach patients and families to watch all sugar intake closely.
- They advise keeping total sugar below 40 g per day, following World Health Organization guidance.
How it was done
Popular sources disagree on whether table sugar is a better choice than high fructose corn syrup. The authors wanted to gather evidence on how both affect blood sugar, fat levels, weight and hunger.
The authors searched nursing and health databases for research comparing table sugar and high fructose corn syrup. They found five studies that met their criteria. They compared the studies by sample size, methods, findings and strength of evidence.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- With only five studies included, scientists do not yet know the full picture of long-term effects.
- These studies looked at specific markers like blood sugar and fat levels, not actual heart disease events.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- James Madison University, USA
The paper
- Title
- Sugar or high fructose corn syrup-what should nurses teach patients and families?
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Sobel LL, Dalby E (2014). Sugar or high fructose corn syrup-what should nurses teach patients and families?. Worldviews on evidence-based nursing. doi:10.1111/wvn.12027PubMed 24612636DOI
Summary written 30 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error