Does a Diet High in Fructose Raise Blood Pressure?

A new study shows that diets high in fructose increase the risk of high blood pressure, even in healthy people without hypertension.

Fructose in the form of high fructose corn syrup has received a lot of negative press recently. Some studies show that a diet high in fructose, in the form of high fructose corn syrup, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Now, a new study shows that a high fructose intake also increase the risk of high blood pressure in healthy people without hypertension.

High Fructose Foods and the Risk of Hypertension

In a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrologists, researchers looked at the fructose intake of 4528 healthy adults with normal blood pressures. They found that among these adults without hypertension, ones who had a fructose intake of seventy-four grams of fructose a day or greater were at higher risk for high blood pressure, even after other risk factors and dietary habits were taken into account.

How much is seventy-four grams of fructose a day? This is the equivalent of drinking two-and-a-half soft drinks a day – something many Americans do on a regular basis. This raises concerns that the American diet of processed foods and soft drinks could be taking its toll on the health of Americans by increasing their risk of hypertension and heart disease.

Foods High in Fructose are Everywhere

Unfortunately, high fructose corn syrup is no stranger to supermarket shelves. It’s hiding in many processed foods including such unlikely sources as bread, salad dressings, soups, and ketchup. High fructose corn syrup is produced using enzymes to convert glucose into fructose which is then changed to a liquid form by mixing it with corn syrup. Manufacturers love using high fructose corn syrup because it’s inexpensive. Soft drinks are one of the biggest sources of fructose intake in the American diet.

Why are High Fructose Foods and Beverages so Bad?

One researcher found that soft drinks high in fructose contain highly reactive chemicals called carbonyls. Carbonyls are elevated in people with diabetes and are believed to be responsible for some of the complications seen in people with long standing diabetes. Because these carbonyls are so unstable and reactive, it’s easy for them to attach to tissues – and cause damage.

It’s not clear whether carbonyls account for all of the damage associated with high fructose foods and beverages – or whether they’re responsible for the higher risk of hypertension in people who have a high fructose intake.

An increased risk of hypertension is another potential risk of eating high fructose foods and drinking soft drinks – as well as a higher risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes. The best plan is to avoid foods containing high fructose corn syrup, as much as possible, until more is known.

First published Jul 19, 2010 Kristie Leong

References:

Medscape.com website. "High Fructose Intake Linked to Higher Blood Pressure" Accessed 06/19/10.

Science Daily website. "Soda Warning? High-Fructose Corn Syrup Linked To Diabetes, New Study Suggests" Accessed 06/19/10.