Clinical Review on Linking High Fructose Corn Syrup and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Authors

Oana S. Sturza, University of Lynchburg, VAFollow

Specialty

Physician Assistant

Advisor

Dr. T. Colletti

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Excessive dietary fructose intake is increasingly recognized as a critical driver of metabolic disorder and chronic liver disease. Evidence from experimental and clinical studies links fructose consumption to hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). This review synthesizes findings from key studies and recent narrative reviews to elucidate the metabolic, microbiota-mediated, and clinical pathway by which fructose, more specifically high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), contributes to liver pathology and discusses implications for prevention and management. Methods used to obtain the information included using databases such as PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Google Scholar. Medical subject headings (MeSH) terms such as “Fructose/adverse effects”, “High Fructose Corn Syrup”, “Non alcoholic liver disease”, and “High Fructose Corn Syrup contributing to Non Alcoholic Liver Disease” were used. The Boolean operators used were “and/or.” Results indicated that currently, NAFLD has become the most common cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, paralleling the epidemics of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Fructose, unlike glucose, is metabolized primarily in the liver, bypassing key regulatory steps of glycolysis and promoting de novo lipogenesis (DNL). This unique metabolic fate makes fructose a potent driver for hepatic fat accumulation and inflammation. Public health policies to reduce fructose consumption, patient education by healthcare providers, including Physician Assistants, and developing targeted therapies to interrupt fructose-driven metabolic and inflammatory pathways are critical to curbing the global burden of metabolic liver disease. Future research is needed to clarify the dose-response relationship between HFCS and NAFLD.

KEYWORDS:

High fructose corn syrup, non alcoholic liver disease, metabolic disorders,

APPENDIX

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Recommended Citation

Sturza OS. Clinical Review on Linking High Fructose Corn Syrup and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2025; 7(3).