Fructose linked to high risk of high blood pressure

Saturday Sept 26, 2009 (foodconsumer.org) -- A diet high in fructose raises blood pressure among men, according to new research.  Early studies have revealed bad side effects from the sugar, such as an increased risk of obesity.

The study released on Wednesday offered the first evidence that fructose helps raise blood pressure, Reuters reported.

The good news is that allopurinol, a drug used to treat gout, can be used to alleviate the effect by reducing the load of uric acid in the body.

Dr. Richard Johnson of the University of Colorado-Denver and co- author of the study was quoted as saying "These results suggest that excessive fructose intake may have a role in the worldwide epidemic of obesity and diabetes."

Johnson and colleagues at the Mateo Orfila Hospital in Spain gave 74 men 200 grams of fructose per day in addition to their regular diet.  Half of the participants were also given allopurinol.

Most American adults consume 50 - 70 grams of fructose daily.

After two weeks on the fructose diet, the men were found to have increased systolic blood pressure by six millimeters and diastolic blood pressure by about three millimeters.

The effect seemed to be reversible. The researchers found that most of the elevated blood pressure readings returned to normal after two months.

Those who were given both fructose and allopurinol did not raise their systolic blood pressure or increase their risk of metabolic syndrome.

Fructose is found high in honey, high fructose corn syrup, and table sugar.

By David Liu davidl at foodconsumer dot org

edited by Rachel Stockton rachels at foodconsumer dot org