Interesting article on the possibility of liver damage caused by too much fructose in the diet- High Fructose Diet Induces Hepatic Dysfunction in Healthy Men Richard D. Wasnich, M.D., Medical Director, Radiant Research - Honolulu Jon L. Ruckle, M.D., Associate Medical Director, Radiant Research - Honolulu= Corresponding Author and Reprint Contact: Richard D. Wasnich, M.D. Radiant Research =E2=80=93 Honolulu 401 Kamakee Street Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 Phone: (808) 592-2631 Fax: (808) 592-2638 E-mail Address: [log in to unmask] Abstract Purpose: Fructose rich diets have been shown to have deleterious metabolic effects, including glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and liver dysfunction. This study was conducted to assess the effect of a high fructose, excess calorie diet upon liver function. Procedures: Sixteen healthy, young Japanese men participated in an open label crossover study comparing an excess calorie, high fructose diet to a low fructose, isocaloric diet. Serum transaminases and other biochemical variables were measured every 24 hours during two, separate five-day confinements Findings: Five of sixteen men experienced significant elevations of serum transaminase levels within 5 days of starting the high fructose diet. None of the 16 men had transaminase elevations with the low fructose, isocaloric diet. Conclusions: High fructose diets may have deleterious effects upon liver function, and there may be a genetic susceptibility to this consequence in a substantial portion of the population. KEY WORDS: Fructose, metabolism, liver, toxicity Introduction Since the introduction of high fructose corn syrup as a sweetener in the 1970=E2=80=99 s, it has been incorporated into a variety of food products. It is now estimated that fructose accounts for 8-9% of total energy intake in North America and Europe. Fructose-rich diets have been shown to have some deleterious metabolic effects in healthy individuals, including impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia (Daly et al, 1993; Hollenbeck, 1993; Dirlewanger et al, 2000; Thresher et al, 2000). In addition, liver function abnormalities have been reported in men feda high sucrose diet (Kobayashi et al, 1991). This study was conducted to compare the hepatic and metabolic effects of an excess calorie, high fructose diet, as compared to an isocaloric diet without added fructose, in healthy men of Japanese ancestry living in Honolulu, Hawaii. ..... see: http://www.priory.com/med/fructose.htm Methods