High-fructose corn syrup causes characteristics of obesity in rats: increased body weight, body fat and triglyceride levels

Abstract

High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) accounts for as much as 40% of caloric sweeteners used in the United States. Some studies have shown that short-term access to HFCS can cause increased body weight, but the findings are mixed. The current study examined both short- and long-term effects of HFCS on body weight, body fat, and circulating triglycerides. In Experiment 1, male Sprague-Dawley rats were maintained for short term (8 weeks) on (1) 12 h/day of 8% HFCS, (2) 12 h/day 10% sucrose, (3) 24 h/day HFCS, all with ad libitum rodent chow, or (4) ad libitum chow alone. Rats with 12-h access to HFCS gained significantly more body weight than animals given equal access to 10% sucrose, even though they consumed the same number of total calories, but fewer calories from HFCS than sucrose. In Experiment 2, the long-term effects of HFCS on body weight and obesogenic parameters, as well as gender differences, were explored. Over the course of 6 or 7 months, both male and female rats with access to HFCS gained significantly more body weight than control groups. This increase in body weight with HFCS was accompanied by an increase in adipose fat, notably in the abdominal region, and elevated circulating triglyceride levels. Translated to humans, these results suggest that excessive consumption of HFCS may contribute to the incidence of obesity.

Figure 1

Body weight gain in male rats during 6 mo as percent of initial weight. Groups had daily 12-h access to HFCS and chow, 24-h access to HFCS and chow, or ad libitum chow. Males with access to HFCS gained significantly more weight over the duration of the experiment than animals with only chow access, reaching significance at week 3. *p<0.05. Values are means ± SEM.

Figure 2

Males maintained on either 24- or 12-h HFCS diets showed increased abdominal fat pad weight. **p<0.05. Values are means ± SEM.

Figure 3

Body weight gain in female rats during 7 mo as percent of initial weight in rats with 12-h access to HFCS and chow, 24-h access to HFCS and chow, 12-h sucrose and chow, or ad libitum chow. Females with 24-h access to HFCS gained significantly more weight over the duration of the experiment than animals with sucrose access or chow access, data reached significance at week 19. *p<0.05. Values are means ± SEM.

Figure 4

Females maintained on 24-h access to HFCS and chow showed increased abdominal and uteral fat pad weight. **p<0.05. Values are means ± SEM.