High Fructose Intake May Activate Aggressive Behaviors in Behavioral Disorders
Just because you are eating lots of fruits and vegetables, you are already considered a healthy eater. Don't forget about fructose.
Fructose is a type of sugar which many fruits and vegetables have. It is even found in honey, one of the most common sweeteners of those avoiding refined or white sugar.
Fructose is also used as a sweetener for some diet foods, although this type is not recommended for people who have diabetes as it could adversely impact their glucose levels.
A new study suggests that conditions like "attention deficit hyperactivity syndrome or ADHD, bipolar and other aggressive behaviors" may be associated with consumption of sugar, "And that it may even have an evolutionary basis."
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Fructose is also found in honey, one of the most common sweeteners of those avoiding the refined or white sugar.
The Role of Fructose
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus study which was released on October 16, 2020, and published in Evolution and Human Behavior shows a hypothesis that supports a function for fructose, a sugar component "and high fructose corn syrup and uric acid, a fructose metabolite" in augmenting the risk for the behavioral disorders mentioned.
Reports on this new finding said, according to Richard Johnson, MD, a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, that by lowering energy in cells, fructose activates a foraging reaction similar to what takes place during starvation.
Johnson summarized the study showing a foraging reaction kindles "risk-taking, impulsivity, novelty-seeking, rapid decision-making and aggressiveness" to support the safeguarding of food as a survival response.
In addition, the professor said, over-activation of this process from excessive intake of sugar may lead to "impulsive behavior that could range from ADHD to bipolar disorder or even aggression."
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Study Authors' Recommendation
While the pathway of fructose was meant to support survival, Professor Johnson explained, intake of fructose has skyrocketed during the past century "and may be in overdrive" because of the high amounts of sugar found in the present Western Diet.
Essentially, the paper further investigates how excessive consumption of fructose found in refined sugars, as well as the high fructose corn syrup may have a contributing function in the pathogenesis of behavioral disorders linked to obesity in Western Diet.
ScienceDirect released a study on this in 2017. Specifically, it highlighted the link of Western Diet to conditions like diabetes and obesity.
Commenting on their study finding, the professor also said, they are not blaming sugar for aggressive behavior. However, he noted, it may be a contributor.
He recommends further research to examine sugar and uric acid's role, particularly with fructose metabolism's new inhibitors on the horizon.
Fructose, being identified as a risk factor, does not contradict the essentiality of "genetic, familial, physical, emotional and environmental factors" that form mental condition, said professor Johnson.
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Oct 18, 2020 09:02 PM EDT
