Supplement
Fructose is a simple sugar found in fruit, honey, and table sugar, and the liver does most of the work of breaking it down. Trials found that high intake raised blood triglycerides, especially when people ate extra calories, and liver fat and uric acid rose too. Still, the evidence is limited, and swapping it for other carbs at the same calories did not cause weight gain.
- Updated
- How we grade
- Best evidence
- Grade C
- Conditions studied
- 4
- Outcomes
- 5
- Graded outcomes
- 0041
Evidence by condition
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
Nafld Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hepatic Fat Content Excessive fructose intake associated with increased liver fat accumulation | Changes; see studies | Moderate effect | 500 people |
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triglycerides High fructose intake increases blood triglycerides, especially in hypercaloric conditions | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 800 people | |||
| Uric Acid Fructose metabolism increases uric acid production | Improves (the measure goes down) | Moderate effect | 400 people |
Exercise Performance
- Endurance Performance: improves
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endurance Performance Fructose + glucose combination may improve endurance vs glucose alone (different absorption pathways) | Improves (the measure goes up) | Small effect | 150 people |
Obesity
- Body Weight
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body Weight Isocaloric exchange of fructose for other carbs does not cause weight gain; hypercaloric intake does | Small effect | 1,000 people |
Key findings
- Hepatic Fat ContentChanges; see studies
- TriglyceridesImproves (the measure goes down)
- Uric AcidImproves (the measure goes down)
Shop Fructose
Third-party tested Fructose products. The evidence above is limited, so read it before you buy.
- Grade C
Links to Fullscript, iHerb or Thorne carry our referral, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Grades come from the research and never change based on what we earn. Fullscript asks for a free account before it shows its catalog and prices. Full disclosure