The American journal of clinical nutrition
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Review
Consumption of high-fructose corn syrup in beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity.
Obesity is a major epidemic, but its causes are still unclear. In this article, we investigate the relation between the intake of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and the development of obesity. We analyzed food consumption patterns by using US Department of Agriculture food consumption tables from 1967 to 2000. ⋯ Because insulin and leptin act as key afferent signals in the regulation of food intake and body weight, this suggests that dietary fructose may contribute to increased energy intake and weight gain. Furthermore, calorically sweetened beverages may enhance caloric overconsumption. Thus, the increase in consumption of HFCS has a temporal relation to the epidemic of obesity, and the overconsumption of HFCS in calorically sweetened beverages may play a role in the epidemic of obesity.
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An elevated LDL-cholesterol concentration is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The association between fruit and vegetable consumption and LDL has been inconsistent. ⋯ Consumption of fruit and vegetables is inversely related to LDL in men and women.
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Comparative Study
Body mass index and obesity-related metabolic disorders in Taiwanese and US whites and blacks: implications for definitions of overweight and obesity for Asians.
Recommendations based on scanty data have been made to lower the body mass index (BMI; in kg/m(2)) cutoff for obesity in Asians. ⋯ These data suggest a possible need to set lower BMI cutoffs for Asians, but where to draw the line is a complex issue.
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Editorial Comment
Nature versus nurture in childhood obesity: a familiar old conundrum.