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.