Enzymes produced to metabolize fructose (sugar) may contribute to obesity, diabetes, and other illnesses, according to research by an international group of scientists. One form of the enzyme produced to metabolize fructose causes fat to be deposited in the liver, obesity, and insulin resistance. Another form of the enzyme protects against these problems when metabolizing the sugar. “These studies provide new insights into how fructose may contribute to the development of obesity and diabetes,” says senior author Richard Johnson. “In particular, the identification of contrasting roles for two enzymes that are involved in fructose metabolism was surprising and could be important in understanding why some individuals may be more sensitive to the metabolic effects of fructose than others.” High sugar consumption is strongly associated with obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, visceral fat accumulation, and insulin resistance, when compared to starch-based diets.
