FRUCTOSE;

Abstract

Objectives: To study and compare the effects of fructose and galactose on, bloodglucose, insulin, HbA and lipids and anthropometric measurements. Data Source: Ninety, 1chealthy adult male rats of Sprague-Dawley strain. Design: Experimental study. Setting:Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, A.M.C, Rawalpindi, in collaboration withN.I.H, Islamabad. Period: Twelve months. Subjects and Methods: Rats weighing 180-350 gramswere selected by random sampling and were divided into three groups, 30 each. Group I wasgiven standard diet, Group II was given high fructose diet (HFD), i.e., 1.5gms/Kg body weight/dayof fructose, along with standard diet for two weeks and Group III was given high galactose diet,i.e., 0.83gms/Kg body weight/day, along with standard diet for two weeks. Results: There was asignificant increase in height of galactose group while fructose group has significant weight loss;BMI decreased in both but more in former. The blood levels of cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, TG, andinsulin were significantly higher in fructose group than in galactose group. There was nosignificant difference between blood glucose and HbA among these groups yet their higher 1clevels indicate the chances of developing insulin resistance. Conclusions: Fructose due to itsless hyperglycaemic effects should not be used in diet and must not be prescribed in diabetes, asin the long run it can lead to obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular risk. Non-significant effectsof galactose on above parameters (except lipoproteins), does not mean that it can be used as analternative to fructose and this area needs exploration.