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# Is fructose good for patients with diabetes?
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/fructose_diabetes_1019130842/
- Published: 2013-10-19T09:41:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:26:40.000Z
- Description: An EFSA panel backs a claim that replacing glucose and sucrose with fructose reduces post-prandial glycaemic response, a benefit for people who want to lower it, while acknowledging that high fructose intake may bring dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and more visceral fat.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Politics, #vivvo-import

Saturday Oct 19, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A scientific panel affiliated with European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) agrees on a claim that fructose in place of glucose and sucrose in sugar sweetened foods and beverages is healthier than glucose and sucrose.

On the other hand, the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies acknowledges in the report released in EFSA Journal that "high intakes of fructose may lead to metabolic complications such as dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and increased visceral adiposity."

The Panel issues its opinion on the health claim in response to a request from the European Commission. The panel substantiates the health claim based on the information provided by the Member States and reference EFSA has received from Member States or other organizations of interest.

The Panel agrees that fructose in place of glucose and sucrose can reduce "post-prandial glycaemic responses", which the panel says is a "beneficial physiological effect" for the targeted population who "wish to reduce their post-prandial glycemic responses." "as long as as long as post-prandial insulinaemic responses are not disproportionally increased."

An authoritative study by Princeton University scientists proved that fructose is more obesogenic than glucose. Insulinaemic response is more sensitive to glucose and sucrose than fructose because glucose and fructose go through different metabolism pathways. Fructose does not trigger a greater insulinaemic response than glucose, but easier than glucose to be converted into fat and deposited around vital organs like the liver causing a series of health conditions.

Richard J. Johnson, M.D. from University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida and colleagues have proposed in Endocrine Reviews that excessive fructose intake (greater than 50 grams per day) may be one cause for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. And the primary source of fructose is high fructose corn syrup and sucrose.

Many savvy food consumers may have concluded based on the scientific evidence that no simple sugars or monosachrides are as healthy as unrefined complex carbohydrates found in grains. Diabetics should follow a healthy diet that can really help their condition and overall health, but not make a choice between a fructose sweetened beverage and a sucrose and or glucose-sweetened beverage. (DL)