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Fructose intake leads to metabolic disorders
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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The St. Luke's Cardiology Institute's research center has established that the main cause of type 2 diabetes is the consumption of foods and drinks containing fructose. According to experts, this is the reason why type 2 diabetes has recently become so common.
Currently, approximately one in ten adults on the planet suffers from this disease. Over the past almost thirty years, the number of patients with type 2 diabetes has doubled. In the 80s of the last century, approximately 150 million people suffered from diabetes, in 2008 – about 350 million.
During their work, the specialists assessed the results of other studies and experiments on animals, as well as with the participation of people. According to the latest study, replacing glucose with fructose leads to negative consequences.
The greatest danger, according to scientists, is fructose in table sugar and corn syrup (this sweetener is popular in the food industry). At the same time, fructose in natural products, i.e. fruits and vegetables, does not lead to such serious consequences. As scientists note, the presence of fruits and vegetables in the diet helps prevent the development of many diseases, including diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
Experts recommend eating more natural foods and limiting foods containing fructose.
In another study, experts found that fructose consumption affects the human psyche. Frequent consumption of fructose increases the risk of developing depression and anxiety.
Fructose is a sweet substance that is used in the production of various foods and drinks, and is also found in fruits and vegetables.
It has already been proven that fructose consumption causes cancer, type 2 diabetes, impaired cognitive function of the brain in old age, and cardiovascular diseases.
At Emory University, experts have identified another feature of fructose: consumption in high doses changes the brain's response to stress, making a person more sensitive to it. Teenagers are especially susceptible to such changes. An acute reaction to stress leads to increased blood pressure, increases the likelihood of a heart attack, stroke, reduces the body's immune defense, and also causes rapid aging of the body.
The experts studied the effect of fructose on two groups of rats. The first was fed regular food, and the second was fed food with a large amount of fructose. After two and a half months, the experimental animals were subjected to stress (some of the animals were thrown into water, some were placed in a cascade maze).
As a result, the scientists concluded that young rats that received large amounts of fructose had a different reaction to stress, their bodies produced a large amount of cortisol (a stress hormone) compared to adults. Young rats also showed a depressive state and increased anxiety.