High fructose corn syrup and health effects reviewed
What it found
Studies linking fructose to obesity and metabolic syndrome may not apply to high fructose corn syrup, because they tested pure fructose at very high concentrations.
The review weighed the pros and cons of using HFCS in food.
What they found
Uses in food
High fructose syrups are used as sugar substitutes because of their physical and functional properties. HFCS is used in bakery products, dairy products, breakfast cereals and beverages.
Reported health concerns
It has been reported that there might be a direct relationship between high fructose intake and adverse health effects such as obesity and the metabolic syndrome.
Limits of the evidence
The results of studies on a high fructose-rich diet cannot be certainly generalised to the effects of HFCS, because they investigated pure fructose at very high concentrations when measuring metabolic upsets.
What the authors conclude
“Although studies have indicated that there might be a correlation between high fructose-rich diet and several adverse effects, however, the results of these studies cannot be certainly generalised to the effects of HFCS; because they have investigated pure fructose at very high concentrations in measurement of metabolic upsets.”
Also in their conclusions
- They critically considered the advantages and possible disadvantages of HFCS application and consumption in the food industry.
- They present this as a current challenging issue between nutritionists and food technologists.
How it was done
High fructose corn syrup is used in bakery products, dairy products, breakfast cereals and beverages, but some reports suggest a direct link between high fructose intake and adverse health effects such as obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Fructose has recently received much attention, most of it negative.
The authors critically reviewed the advantages and possible disadvantages of using and consuming HFCS in the food industry, framing it as a current challenging issue between nutritionists and food technologists.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- The studies behind the health concerns tested pure fructose at very high concentrations, so their results cannot be certainly generalised to HFCS.
- This review does not report new measurements in people or animals.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Iran; Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran
The paper
- Title
- Fructose and high fructose corn syrup: are they a two-edged sword?
- Type
- ReviewThe authors read earlier studies and describe what they found. It isn’t a new study.
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Khorshidian N, Shadnoush M, Zabihzadeh Khajavi M, Sohrabvandi S, Yousefi M, Mortazavian AM (2021). Fructose and high fructose corn syrup: are they a two-edged sword?. International journal of food sciences and nutrition. doi:10.1080/09637486.2020.1862068PubMed 33499690DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error