Is maltose corn syrup unhealthy for human consumption?

Answer 1

No. While there is some debate as to the dangers of HFCS, there has been little to no evidence showing High Maltose Corn Syrup to be a concern.

It is largely suspected that High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is a contributor to American obesity and perhaps Diabetes and other blood sugar ailments, that does not necessarily mean that High Maltose Corn Syrup (HMCS) is also to blame. Maltose is a disaccharide where fructose is a monosaccharide. Scientific research does not at this time appear to be published that establishes the same type of link to HMCS as has been connected to HFCS. As with any sugar and particularly concentrated sugar, you should limit your dietary intake. But the same applies to HFCS as well... and cheerios... and anything else you eat.

UPDATE: HFCS has been the subject of a study in lab rats, the control group was given sugar water, the test group was given water+HFCS. This was in addition to the regular diet of Rat Chow. Both groups were given the exact same amount of calories overall, and the same amount of calories in Rat Chow, the ONLY difference was the substitution of HFCS for sugar. The rats given HFCS gained 48% of their body weight in fat. This is the equivalent of a 200 pound person gaining 96 pounds. This was Princeton even. (See the related link, further down this page, listed under Related Links.)

It is important to note that it is only SUSPECTED that there is a link between HFCS and obesity or diabetes. It has not been proven that HFCS is any more a factor in those epidemics than regular table sugar. The only way it could possibly contribute more to those epidemics than regular sugar, is that it is found in so much of the food we eat. Thus it, in itself, is not bad. But the extremely high amounts of it being consumed are. Furthermore, studies showing Fructose to be damaging to the liver and metabolism were not done using HFCS, but 100 percent pure Fructose in concentrations higher than anyone would ever be able to intake naturally. Experts in this field have repeatedly stated that HFCS is no worse for you than any other sugar out there, and that ALL sugars should be consumed in moderation. As usual the overweight American public want something to blame for their problems, when the real blame rests with them. Sop eating so much sugar, regardless of what kind it is, it is vital to add some activity to your life.

High Fructose Corn Syrup and High Maltose Corn Syrup are not the same thing. Maltose is no more than two bonded units of glucose. No fructose is present at all, and it is very easy for your body two break down maltose into nothing more than glucose. Considering that there is no fructose present all, and that fructose is the primary concern with HFCS, I can't understand why anyone would compare HMCS to HFCS at all. Glucose is easily metabolized by your body.

It may also be helpful to be aware that whenever you eat starch (a polymer of glucose) from any source such as products make from cereal grains, potatoes and relatives, etc., virtually all of that starch is digested by the enzymes in the small intestine first to maltose (which as noted above is merely 2 linked glucose molecules). The maltose is then readily split to its respective glucose molecule which are then absorbable. Corn syrup itself is nothing more than partially broken-down starch--a mix of glucose, maltose, and then aggregates of linked glucose from 3 to perhaps 30. So, maltose corn syrup is no more unhealthy than any other refined sugar, and is, in physiological effect, no different from eating the equivalent weight of corn (or any other) starch.

Regarding fructose: this is a naturally and widely occurring sugar. It may be helpful to realize that ordinary table sugar (sucrose) is a double sugar composed of a glucose linked to a fructose (so, 50:50 glucose:fructose) which is readily digested in the small intestine to release the individual sugars; honey is an approximate 50:50 mix of glucose and fructose (predigested from sucrose for us by bees); and the most common high-fructose corn syrup is a mix of 45:55 glucose:fructose. Nutritionists consider that it makes little sense to vilify HFCS when it is virtually indistinguishable from these other two very common sugar sources.

....looks great on paper. Just like many of our bright ideas. Don't forget to mention that corn syrup is not natural (its created in a laboratory) and that much of it apparently contains Mercury. Mmmmm, so grab a bottle of flavored bubbly corn syrup and look in the mirror....the only thing in this category that is worse are the other imitation sweeteners: Aspartame and sucralose (do some research and wake up).

While I agree that chemical sweeteners are generally unsafe, I don't know how this fits into a discussion of Corn Syrup. Furthermore, "genetically modified" does not necessarily equal "bad." Norman Borlaug used his background in genetics and agriculture to create semi-dwarf high-yield, disease-resistant wheat varieties. Because of this genetically modified wheat, 1 billion human beings, more than one 1 in 7 on the planet, have not died of hunger.

Answer 2

No, corn syrup is not healthy for you.

Answer 3

Yes