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Carbohydrates, glycemic index and diabetes mellitus

Glycaemic, uricaemic and blood pressure response to beverages with partial fructose replacement of sucrose

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 72, pages 1717–1723 (2018)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives

The European Food Safety Authority approved a health claim (ID558) relating to lowered postprandial glycaemia when fructose replaces 30% of sucrose in foods and beverages. We assessed the effects of partial replacement of sucrose with fructose on serum glucose, uric acid and blood pressure.

Subjects/methods

A randomised, crossover, double blind trial of 12 normoglycaemic participants consuming beverages containing 50 g blends of fructose and sucrose in proportions; 67% sucrose/33% fructose (67%S:33%F); 50% each (50%S:50%F) and 33%S:67%F; a 100% sucrose reference beverage was tested twice. Serum glucose and uric acid concentrations were measured at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min and incremental area-under-the-curve (iAUC) calculated.

Results

The geometric mean (95% CI) glycaemic iAUC following the 100% sucrose, 67%S:33%F, 50%S:50%F and 33%S:67%F blended beverages were 96 (63,145), 71 (46,109), 60 (39, 93) and 39 (12, 86) mmol/L min, respectively. At 33% fructose replacement, the proportionally lower iAUC of −28.5% (95% CI: −62.1, 5.2) mmol/L min was not different to sucrose alone. The response was lowered by fructose replacement of 50 and 67% and overall there was an inverse association (p < 0.001). The mean uricaemic iAUC to the respective beverages were 1320 (393, 2248), 3062 (1553, 4570), 3646 (2446, 4847), 3623 (2020, 5226) µmol/L min. Uric acid concentration was raised by all fructose-containing beverages with 33% fructose replacement causing an increase of 1741 (95% CI: 655, 2829) µmol/L min compared with sucrose alone. Blood pressure was not different among beverages.

Conclusions

Reduced postprandial glycaemia was achieved by the substitution of sucrose with fructose although elevated uricaemic responses should be cautioned.

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Acknowledgements

This study was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) reference ACTRN12616001502426.

Funding

The study was funded by the University of Otago.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Natasha Rodrigues & Bernard Joseph Venn

  2. Department of Food Science, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Mei Peng & Indrawati Oey

  3. Riddet Institute, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand

    Indrawati Oey

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  1. Natasha Rodrigues
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Correspondence to Bernard Joseph Venn.

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Rodrigues, N., Peng, M., Oey, I. et al. Glycaemic, uricaemic and blood pressure response to beverages with partial fructose replacement of sucrose. Eur J Clin Nutr 72, 1717–1723 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0134-x

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