Metabolism
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Is fructose fattening?
One hypothesis to explain the increase in overweight and obesity over the last two decades is that as well as increased food consumption and reduced physical activity, increased consumption of fructose may be a factor. Fructose is 1.7-times sweeter than sucrose, and high fructose syrups, made by hydrolysis of starch followed by isomerisation of much of the glucose to fructose, provide a cheap and convenient alternative to sucrose in the manufacture of sweetened beverages and other foods. There is good experimental evidence in experimental animals, and some preliminary evidence in human beings, that consumption of a relatively large amount of fructose leads to increased fatty acid and triacylglycerol synthesis in the liver, and increased secretion of very low density lipoprotein. Consumption of an equivalent amount of glucose is not associated with the same increase in lipogenesis.
Which step provides the main regulation of glycolysis?