EFFECT OF SUCROSE IN HUMANS

on 11th September 2014

- Sabari Rajendran CSIR CECRI

What is sucrose?Simply table sugar…

Chemically, a carbohydrate To be specific a disaccharide.

More about sucrose:

Molecular formula: C12H22O11

Molecular weight: 342 g/mol

Non reducing sugar

Colourless crystalline solid

Tastes sweet

Produced by all photosynthetic plants

Sucrose in our food:

Main energy (carbohydrate) natural source

1 g ≍ 4.1 Kcal

Natural sources are honey, fruits,…

Manufactured from sugarcane, sugar beet, sugar maple,…

Most common food sweetener used in soft-drinks, confectionaries, sweets, bakery products, junk foods,…

Sucrose Metabolism:

Easily assimilated macronutrient (quick energy source)

Sucrose glucose + fructose

Glucose and fructose are readily absorbed by the vili and enters into the blood stream.

Undigested sucrose are broken down by enzymes sucrase and isomaltase glycoside.

H2O / H+

Glycoside hydrolase

Health Risks of sucrose:

Dental caries

Occurs because of dimineralization of enamel and

dentine by organic acids formed by bacteria (S. mutants) through anaerobic metabolism of free sugars.

Starch has no significant role in this.

To prevent, use flouride toothpaste, reduce sugar intake, eat foods that stimulate salivary flow.

Is sugar, the reason behind diabetes?

50:50

2 types of diabetes

• Insulin dependent

• Insulin independent

Biggest risk factor for Type 2 diabetes is obesity, which induces insulin resistance.

High calories from any source causes obesity, it may be sugars or fat…

Sweeteners others than sucrose:

HFCSHigh fructose corn syrup. Contains fructose and glucoseDifferent proportions are available

Fructose100% fructose

Sweet but no calories:

Saccharin (warning label )

Aspartame

Acesulfame potassium

Sucralose

Neotame

Cyclamate (banned)

Sources: FDA

Sugars and obesity:

The glucose absorbed in the intestines are taken to the blood stream from where they fuel all cells by a series of processes.

Almost all glucose is burnt to CO2 , water and energy.

Excess glucose is converted to glycogen (a polysaccharide) by a process called glycogenesis and is stored in liver.

Sugars and obesity:

However, fructose undergoes different metabolism, which primarily takes place in liver.

Some portion is converted to glucose like compounds that are used for furnishing energy.

When energy is needed, it is processed to glycogen and stored in liver.

Or else, all the fructose gets converted to triglycerides, the precursors of fats.

Sugars and obesity:

Thus, it had lead to a misconception that fructose intake leads to obesity.

There are no strong evidences to prove this.

Several trials of high sucrose, hfcs diet shows that only a small percent of fructose gets converted to triglycerides.

Don’t get r

elaxed

What happens if we intake sugars in excess?

Excess sugars

Insulin Resistance

Type – IIDiabetes

Pancreatic cancer

Obesity

Hypertension

Coronary Heart Disease

Myths and misconceptions:

х All fructose fats

х Sucrose is better than HFCS

х Sugar is not addictive

х Sugar is empty calories

х Sugar causes hyperactivity in children

Sources: FDA, American Diabetes Association, TIME

Sugars – highly restricted:

For people who are suffering from

– Diabetes

– Sucrose intolerance

– Fructose intolerance

– Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex Deficiency

– Mucopolysaccharidoses

– Glycogen storage diseases

Is Sugar – good or bad?

It’s all about balances

American Diabetes Association recommends people to limit their intake of

sugar-sweetened beverages to help prevent diabetes

Calorie intake Calories burnt

Base: 200 calorie servings

Frozen novelties, ice type, pop - 15896mg

Candies, chocolates - 16326mg

Cereals ready-to-eat - 16638mg

McDONALD'S with OREO cookies - 17209mg

Puddings, chocolate, ready-to-eat - 21792mg

Nuts, coconut cream, canned, sweetened - 28855mg

Drink mix, QUAKER OATS, GATORADE - 30879mg

List of ‘free sugar’ content in some consumer products

Food containing HFCS:

yoghurts, bread, cereal bars,frozen pizza,mac and cheese,peanuts, tonic water, salad dressing, canned fruit, apple sauce,ketchup, Preservatives.