Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Fructose

Fructose consumption has risen sharply during the past several decades. Since its introduction to the United States in 1967, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has overtaken sucrose as the main sweetener in manufactured foods and beverages, and thus, is responsible for the approximately 30% increase in fructose in our diet. Numerous studies have shown that excessive fructose consumption can cause a variety of harmful metabolic effects, suggesting that fructose may partially be responsible for the current epidemic in obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes.

This preliminary study will investigate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of fructose in a broad population. Specifically, the goal of our research are to compare the impact of the two main sources of dietary fructose, sucrose versus HFCS, on fructose bioavailability and acute metabolic changes by measuring response phenotypes, such as serum uric acid, lactate, and triglyceride levels.

Inclusion criteria

• adult subjects aged 18 years or older
• either gender
• any ethnicity
• willing to abstain from drinking any alcohol 3 days prior to a study visit

Exclusion criteria

• history of liver or kidney disease
• history of diabetes mellitus or fasting blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dl or random blood glucose ≥ 200 mg/dl
• currently taking any medication (except oral contraceptives)
• consume more than 1 alcoholic drink per day
• pregnant or breast-feeding
• blood donor in the previous 8 weeks
• history of gout