High-fructose corn syrup, whole wheat and one day of overeating
What it found
In 17 healthy adults, one day of overeating either high-fructose corn syrup or whole-wheat foods raised energy use about the same, but the high-fructose corn syrup day left people hungrier the next morning.
What they found
Studies in people
Energy use overall
Overfeeding carbohydrates raised 24-hour energy use by 12.8% compared with energy balance. There was no difference in 24-hour energy use or macronutrient use between the high-fructose corn syrup and whole-wheat diets.
Sleeping metabolic rate
Sleeping metabolic rate was higher after the high-fructose corn syrup diet than after the whole-wheat diet, by 35 kcal. This difference remained after adjusting for age, sex, body fat and repeated measures.
Hormones and blood fats
Insulin, ghrelin and triglycerides rose the morning after both overfeeding diets. The rise in triglycerides was greater after the whole-wheat diet.
Cortisol and IGF1
Urinary cortisol was higher after the high-fructose corn syrup diet than after the whole-wheat diet. IGF1 increased only after the whole-wheat diet.
Hunger next morning
The morning after the high-fructose corn syrup diet, the eight volunteers who rated hunger felt hungrier, had a stronger desire to eat, and were more preoccupied with thoughts of food than after the whole-wheat diet.
Fat storage signals
Seven of the 17 subjects showed signs of new fat production during both overfeeding diets. All seven were men, and six were of Native American heritage.
What the authors conclude
“The dietary carbohydrate source while overeating did not affect 24-hour EE, but HFCS overconsumption may predispose individuals to further overeating due to increased glucocorticoid release and increased hunger the following morning.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say the source of carbohydrate while overeating did not affect 24-hour energy use.
- They conclude that high-fructose corn syrup overconsumption may make people more likely to keep overeating, because it raised cortisol and hunger the next morning.
- They advise that overeating in general should be avoided.
How it was done
The authors wanted to know whether the type of carbohydrate eaten during a single day of overeating changes energy use, appetite or hormones. They noted that studies directly comparing common, ready-prepared foods differing only in carbohydrate source were lacking.
Seventeen healthy adults with normal blood sugar stayed in a research unit and ate four different one-day diets in random order: an energy-balanced diet, a fasting day, and two diets with 75% carbohydrate (5% fat) at 200% of energy needs, using either high-fructose corn syrup or whole-wheat foods. Energy use was measured over 24 hours in a whole-room calorimeter, and eight volunteers rated their hunger the next morning.
What it can’t tell you
- This was a small study of 17 people, mostly without many women, so the results may not apply to everyone.
- The hunger ratings came from only eight volunteers.
- The study lasted one day per diet, so it cannot show what happens with longer-term eating habits.
Who paid
- Funding
- Funded by Intramural NIH HHS (from the PubMed record).
- Conflicts
- Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
- Authors work at
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, USA; University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
The paper
- Title
- Energy Expenditure and Hormone Responses in Humans After Overeating High-Fructose Corn Syrup Versus Whole-Wheat Foods
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Full text
- Cite
- Ibrahim M, Bonfiglio S, Schlögl M, et al (2018). Energy Expenditure and Hormone Responses in Humans After Overeating High-Fructose Corn Syrup Versus Whole-Wheat Foods. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). doi:10.1002/oby.22068Free full textPubMed 29193741DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error