India is the second largest producer and the largest consumer of sugar worldwide.

Sugar sources in India are

  • White sugar
  • Honey: Fructose 38.2%,Glucose31.3% and maltose7.1%.
  • Brown sugar: Calcium,Potassium, iron and magnesium.
  • Khandasari: 94-98% sucrose ,less refined than sugar contains some calcium.
  • Palm Sugar: 70-79% sucrose,glucose and fructose 3-9%

High fructose corn syrup contains 55% fructose and 45% glucose while sucrose or table sugar consists of 50% fructose and 50% glucose.

Adverse effects of excess sugar consumption

  • Accumalation of overall body fat
  • Accumalation of intra abdominal fat
  • Insulin resistance- Diabetes
  • Diabetes Metabolic syndrome- hypertriglyceridemia
  • Hyperuricemia
  • Fatty liver
  • Impairment of beta cell function and hepatic steatosis (liver fat deposition)
  • Increased  incidence of dental caries.

Recommendation

Reduced intake  of free sugars to less than 10%  of total energy intake throughout the life  course is a global recommendation