New Delhi (NVI): The effect of added sucrose in the diet on calorie intake and body weight appears to depend on whether it is in liquid or solid form, according to a new study.
Liquid sugar is the sugar you consume in liquid form from beverages like sugar-sweetened soda.
A team of scientists in the United Kingdom and China made these suggestions after giving mice added sugar in either their drink or their food for 8 weeks and then comparing them.
This research has been published in the journal Molecular Genetics and Metabolism.
John R, Professor of Biological and Environmental Science at the University of Aberdeen and lead researcher of this study, said, “Beverages made with sugar have increased the number of people worldwide suffering from obesity. We have tried to find out by this research whether the type of food (solid or liquid) increases human weight gain.”
The mice were observed for a period of 8 weeks. The researchers monitored the mice’s body weight, body fat, calorie intake, and energy expenditure.
They also measured glucose and insulin response as a way to assess how close the animals might come to developing diabetes.
The results showed that the mice that had liquid sucrose in their drinking water consumed more calories, put on more weight, and increased their body fat.
The sugar in beverages is often highly concentrated and easy to consume in large amounts without feeling full.
Some examples of these drinks are fairly obvious, such as sodas and fruit punch. However, many other beverages are high in sugar as well.
