A moderate consumption of sugar significantly increases the production of fat in the liver, which in turn raises the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and fatty liver. According to the German Nutrition Society, sugar consumption in Germany would need to decrease by at least 25% to align with the World Health Organization’s recommendations. A recent study conducted by the University of Zurich and the University Hospital Zurich investigated whether even moderate sugar consumption negatively affects health. The study involved 94 young healthy men who consumed 80 grams of different types of sugar daily for seven weeks in the form of a sweetened drink. The researchers found that fructose, despite having the same calorie content as other sugars, had a negative impact on the body’s fat metabolism, with the fructose group producing twice as much fat as the glucose group.
The study’s findings are significant as previous research has mainly focused on the effects of high sugar consumption. The researchers used tracers to track the sugar’s path through the body and found that even moderate sugar consumption can increase the risk of diseases such as fatty liver and type 2 diabetes. The study’s lead author, Philipp Gerber, emphasized the importance of the results in understanding the harmful effects of added sugar and their significance for future dietary recommendations. The study’s results also support the introduction of a sugar tax, as shown by a recent study that demonstrated a significant reduction in sugar consumption in countries that have implemented such a tax.
In conclusion, the study highlights the negative impact of even moderate sugar consumption on the body’s fat metabolism and the increased risk of diseases such as fatty liver and type 2 diabetes. The findings support the introduction of a sugar tax and emphasize the need for dietary recommendations that align with the World Health Organization’s guidelines. The study’s results are a crucial step in understanding the harmful effects of added sugar and their implications for public health.
