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Carbohydrates, glycemic index and diabetes mellitus

Acute effect of fructose intake from sugar-sweetened beverages on plasma uric acid: a randomised controlled trial

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 70, pages 1034–1038 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objective:

Excessive fructose intake has been linked to hyperuricaemia. Our aim was to test whether 355 and 600 ml of commercial sugar-sweetened soft drinks would acutely raise plasma uric acid.

Subjects/Methods:

Forty-one participants were randomised to a control group or an intervention group. The control group consumed 600 ml of fructose and 600 ml of glucose beverages. The soft drink group consumed 355 and 600 ml of beverages in random order. The control beverages were matched for fructose content with 600 ml of soft drink (26.7 g). Blood samples were collected at baseline, 30 and 60 min and analysed for plasma uric acid.

Results:

Plasma uric acid concentrations were 13 (95% confidence interval: (CI): 3, 23) and 17 μmol/l (95% CI: 6, 28) higher 30 and 60 min after consumption of 600 ml of soft drink compared with the glucose control. The corresponding values for the fructose beverage were 22 (95% CI: 16, 29) and 23 μmol/l (95% CI: 14, 33). There was no significant difference in the increase in uric acid following the 600-ml soft drink compared with the fructose control at 30 min (6 μmol/l; 95% CI: −4, 15) or 60 min (5 μmol/l; 95% CI: −7, 17). There was no difference in the uric-acid-raising effect between the 355 and 600 ml volumes at 30 min (−1 μmol/l; 95% CI: −9, 6) or 60 min (−5 μmol/l; 95% CI: −10, 1).

Conclusion:

Small and transient increases in plasma uric acid are likely after consumption of sucrose-sweetened commercially available single-serve soft drinks in volumes as small as 355 ml.

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Acknowledgements

The study was funded by the University of Otago.

Author contributions

The project idea for this study was from BV. The project was designed and conducted by EC, SW, AR and BV. JH undertook statistical analysis. EC, BV, JH and AR prepared the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be submitted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    E L Carran, S J White, A N Reynolds, J J Haszard & B J Venn

  2. Edgar Diabetes and Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    A N Reynolds

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  1. E L Carran
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Correspondence to B J Venn.

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Carran, E., White, S., Reynolds, A. et al. Acute effect of fructose intake from sugar-sweetened beverages on plasma uric acid: a randomised controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr 70, 1034–1038 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.112

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