Gender and Fructose Metabolization
Scientists are of the opinion that men and women differ from each other when it comes to fructose metabolization. Fructose is a sugar which is meant to sweeten foods and drinks. Researchers revealed that high level of fructose taken within a short span of time in men can raise the levels of triglycerides or fats in the body and at the same time decrease the level of insulin resistance. Such conditions have been linked with an increased risk to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
For women, the excess sugar is lost in a less dramatic way. Hence, researchers opine that there is a marked difference in the way men and women metabolize fructose in their bodies thereby suggesting that gender plays an important role in nutrition and metabolic disorders.
Dr Luc Tappy and his colleagues from the Lausanne University School of Biology and Medicine, Switzerland conducted a survey on about 16 healthy men and women who were non-smokers, of normal weight and aged 23 years.
They were put on two 6-day diets separated by a 4 weeks period. The enlisted people did not perform any exercise or sports activities and remained on the control diet. Their control diet also included lemon drink containing 3.5gof fructose.
The results were quiet clear with men showing a 5% increase in fasting glucose and 71% increase in triglycerides. Women on the other hand showed a 4% increase in fasting glucose and a mere 16% increase in triglycerides or fats. Thus confirming that men responded to an increase to 11 out of the 12 fasting metabolic factors or parameters as against women who responded to a mere 4 out of the 12 factors.
Dr Luc Tappy concluded on the note that it was yet to be confirmed whether fructose had harmful effects on people with a higher risk of metabolic disorders.
