Effect of Partial Sucrose Replacement with Fructose on Glycaemic, Uricemic and Blood Pressure Response

Abstract

In 2013, the European Food Safety Authority approved a health claim (ID 558) relating to lowered post-prandial glycaemic response when food manufacturers substitute a minimum of 30% of sucrose and/or glucose with fructose in foods and beverages. The presumed benefits of this health claim were based on studies showing lowered post-prandial glycaemic response to test meals and drinks containing 100% fructose in comparison with sucrose and glucose. In short, no studies have been carried out to test partial fructose replacement and its presumed health outcomes. Fructose confers a lower glycaemic response relative to sucrose and glucose due to differences in metabolism but has also been implicated in the development of metabolic abnormalities such as hyperuricemia as well as other chronic diseases. The aim of this research is to assess whether partial replacement of sucrose with fructose in a carbonated beverage has significant effect on acute glucose, uric acid and blood pressure response using a randomised crossover trial, where 12 normoglycaemic participants consumed five carbonated beverages on five separate occasions, sweetened with fructose and sucrose in varying proportions.