Long-term sucrose-drinking causes increased body weight and glucose intolerance, according to recent research from Japan. The research states, "The current epidemic of diabetes likely reflects marked changes in environmental factors, although genetic susceptibility plays a powerful role in the occurrence of diabetes in certain populations.

"We investigated whether long-term sucrose-drinking causes hyperglycemia in male Wistar-Imamichi littermates (n=32), which are not genetically susceptible to diabetes or obesity."

"Each litter was divided equivalently into two groups, the sucrose group and the control group. The sucrose group received 300g/L sucrose water, and the control group received regular water until 42 weeks of age.

"Rats were weighed every one or two weeks. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed at 28 and 36 weeks of age. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were measured," said T. Kawasaki and colleagues at Teikyo University in Tokyo.

"Body weights were significantly greater in the sucrose group than in the control group in 18-week-old rats (p<0.05)," scientists reported, "and the difference between the two groups reached 163g by the end of the study (p<0.01)."

"The 120-minute postload plasma glucose concentration in the sucrose group was 11.4 (SD 2.8) mmoL/L in 28-week-old rats and 12.7 (SD 2.2) mmoL/L in 36-week-old rats, while that of the control group remained approximately 7.3-7.7 mmoL/L.

"In the sucrose group," continued the authors, "the plasma insulin peak occurred 30 minutes postload at 28 weeks of age, but the peak disappeared and hyperinsulinemia was prolonged at 36 weeks of age."

Kawasaki concluded, "Long-term sucrose-drinking causes increased body weight and glucose intolerance in normal male rats."

Kawasaki and colleagues published their study in British Journal of Nutrition (“Long-term Sucrose-drinking Causes Increased Body Weight and Glucose Intolerance in Normal Male Rats.” Br J Nutr, 2005;93(5):613-618).

For additional information, contact T. Kawasaki, Teikyo University, School of Medicine, Dept. Internal Medicine, 2-11-1 Kaga, Tokyo, Tokyo 1738605, Japan.

Source: British Journal of Nutrition