Dietary fructose was not a causal factor in rise in obesity prevalence between 1970 and 2008

Abstract

Dietary fructose and its role in obesity has been the focus of much research and debate in recent years. To determine whether fructose consumption in the U.S. has increased sufficiently to be a casual factor in the rise in obesity prevalence, we analyzed U.S. per capita loss‐adjusted food availability data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 132 individual food items. Nutrient profiles for each of these foods were used to determine the availability of energy as well as macronutrients and monosaccharides during the years 1970–2008. Our findings indicate that during this 39 year period the percent change in total energy availability increased 10.5%, but that the net change in fructose availability was 0%. Energy available from glucose, however, increased 12.8%. Furthermore, glucose available from all food sources was about 3–4 times greater than fructose. Energy available from protein, carbohydrate and fat increased 4.6%, 9.1% and 14.1%, respectively. These data suggest that fructose availability in the U.S. did not increase between 1970 and 2008 and therefore could not have been a unique causal factor in the increased obesity prevalence. Increased consumption of foods that contribute other nutrients, primarily glucose and fat, appear to be a more likely explanation.