Sugar and blood pressure - a potent combination?

Sugar, among other things, is associated with fat and diabetes. But it's beginning to seem that not all sugar is created equal. Recent research indicates that fructose is a problem. A recent report in the Renal and Urology News indicates that high fructose consumption (more than 74 grams or 2 1/2  soft drinks a day) is associated with higher risk for elevated blood pressure. It should be noted, though, that this study was delivered at a conference in the Fall but it has not yet been published.

Another study, published last Spring, found that high fructose intake can promote risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The study compared two small groups of people. One group consumed a high fructose diet. The other consumed a high glucose diet. In both cases, the sugar composed 25% of daily energy intake. The high fructose group had higher buildup of visceral adipose tissue  compared to the people with high glucose intake. Visceral adipose tissue, or VAT, is the bad fat that forms around the organs in the belly. Although high glucose intake also resulted in weight gain, it produced a different kind of fat that is not so closely associated as VAT with various kinds of metabolic problems.

The same study also found that fructose was associated with greater lipid production than glucose. Lipids are key for the deposit of cholesterol in the arteries. The fructose group also had higher blood sugar and less insulin sensitivity.