Too Much Fructose Causes Liver Damage

August 1, 2010

Assy discovered that about 80% in his study who were diagnosed with fatty liver drank more than half a liter (about two cups) of carbonated beverages and sweetened juices every day, whereas only 17% of those in the control group had the condition. The ingredient in the sodas and juices that causes the damage is a fruit sugar called fructose, which is highly absorbable in the liver. It does not affect insulin production and goes straight to the liver where it is converted to fat. Fructose ups the chances that you will suffer from a fatty liver, which can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer, Assy tells ISRAEL21c.

His advice to parents is to limit their offsprings' intake of soda or any sweetened beverage—natural or artificial—to not more than about one cup, juice box, or can, a day. To reap optimal benefits from fruit and avoid the liver damage possibility, Assy suggests eating the fruit whole. “The natural orange has fibers and prevents fructose from being absorbed [in the liver],” he explains. If that’s not possible, he recommends drinking fruit juice that has extra pulp in it.

“We found people who drink more than two cans of Coke a day have increased their chances for a fatty liver, and if left untreated, their chances for heart disease and cirrhosis of the liver also increase,” Assy says. While diet drinks do not contain fructose, they do have aspartame and caramel colorants. “Both these can increase insulin resistance and may induce fatty liver.” Assy plans to conduct a more extensive study of the health effects of artificially sweetened drinks, and he suspects that his findings may not be to the taste of the world's beverage industry. For more information: assy.nimer@gmail.com

Source: Excerpts of an article by Karen Kloosterman, www.israel21c.org