Effects of Sugar Sweetened Beverage on Metabolic Health in Male and Female Adolescents

Moderate Amounts of High Fructose- or High Glucose-sweetened Beverages do Not Differentially Alter Metabolic Health in Male and Female Adolescents

We examined the effects of short-term (2-wk) consumption of HF- and HG-sweetened beverages in adolescents (15-20 yr of age) on insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, insulin clearance, triacylglycerol (TAG), and cholesterol concentrations.

This counterbalanced study consisted of two trials including 1) high fructose (HF) trial and, 2) a high glucose (HG) trial. Each trial was blind to the participant, performed in a random order, and was 15 d in length. During days 1-14 of each trial, the participants consumed either 710 ml per day of a HF-sweetened beverage (sweetened with 50 g fructose and 15 g glucose) for 2-wk (HF trial) or 710 ml per day of a HG-sweetened beverage (sweetened with 50 g glucose and 15 g fructose) for 2-wk (HG trial) on top of their normal diet. In addition, the participants were instructed to maintain their normal physical activity levels during each trial (which were measured with an accelerometer). On day 15 of each trial, the participants reported to the lab after a ~ 11 h overnight fast for metabolic testing. During this testing day, the participants remained in the lab for 12 h and consumed three liquid meals (one meal every 4 h and HF meals during HF trial and HG meals during HG trial), while blood samples were taken every 15 or 30 min throughout the 12 h testing day. During testing, the participants remained physically inactive (< 3,000 steps).

Inclusion Criteria:

males and females 15-20 years of age not participating in an organized sport (non-athletes) no history of heart, lung, kidney, endocrine, or gastrointestinal disease no medications known to alter glucose or lipid metabolism normal fasting blood glucose concentrations (< 100 mg/dL) normal fasting triglyceride concentrations (< 150 mg/dL) average daily fructose consumption < 90th percentile for age and sex

Exclusion Criteria:

athlete type 1 diabetic type 2 diabetic consuming high quantities of fructose