Heart Disease Study Fails to Prove Increased Risk Factors
Consumers should not be alarmed about added sugar consumption
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2011
CONTACT: David Knowles
(202) 331-1634
WASHINGTON, DC – The results of a study published in the online edition of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism do not show any clinically relevant increases in LDL and triglyceride levels as a result of added sugar consumption, according to cardiologist James M. Rippe, M.D., Founder and Director of the Rippe Lifestyle Institute, Professor of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Central Florida, and consultant to the food industry.
“This study shows very small differences in low normal lipid values for the metabolic measurements. There is not a shred of evidence that going from one low normal level to another low normal level increases risk factors for heart disease,” said Dr. Rippe. “This is a confirmation of data that my research group presented last year at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions showing that high fructose corn syrup and sucrose behave identically when consumed at levels similar to the levels used in this new study (two to three times the amount recommended by the American Heart Association) and do not raise LDL levels out of the normal range.”
The study included 48 adults consuming fructose, high fructose corn syrup, and glucose. Table sugar (sucrose) is the most commonly consumed caloric sweetener in the American diet. The lead author notes that “it is a limitation of this study that we did not also investigate the effects of sucrose consumption,” and further observed that “we expect that the effects of sucrose would be comparable to those of HFCS.”
“This is a very short-term study using a small sampling, and confirming earlier research finding no clinically relevant changes to the measured parameters, all within normal levels. Consumers should not be alarmed by the claims made by these researchers,” added Dr. Rippe.
For more information about high fructose corn syrup, please visit www.SweetSurprise.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/sweetfacts.
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The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) is the national trade association representing the corn refining (wet milling) industry of the United States. CRA and its predecessors have served this important segment of American agribusiness since 1913. Corn refiners manufacture sweeteners, ethanol, starch, bioproducts, corn oil, and feed products from corn components such as starch, oil, protein, and fiber.
