A new report, published today in Nature Metabolism, is shedding light on the distinct and underappreciated role of fructose in driving disease, separate from its role as a simple source of calories. Researchers examine how common dietary sweeteners, including table sugar (sucrose) and high-fructose corn syrup, impact human health. While both contain glucose and fructose, fructose has unique metabolic effects that may more directly contribute to obesity and related conditions.

*Note – this is an early press release from the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Turkey, 12-15 May. Please credit the congress when using this research*

In new research to be presented at this year’s European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul, Turkey (12-15 May) and published in The Journal of Nutrition, a 42-year old theory as to why children’s body mass index (BMI) decreases post-infancy before then rising continuously from age six years –‘the adiposity rebound’ is refuted using new analyses – rather than decreasing body fat, the real reason is proposed as increasing muscle mass. The study is by Professor Andrew Agbaje, physician and associate professor of clinical epidemiology and child health at the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.