The investigation of the effect of formation of obesity on the consumption of peach nectar which contains high fructose corn syrup in rats

Obesity, which expressed as a health problem of the age in developed countries, has been triggering some cancer types and other diseases. Sugars, which are a group of carbohydrates that are one of the leading components in providing energy to our body, have a particular importance for the food industry due to widespread use. In recent years, the usage of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is become popular due to its lower cost compared to granulated sugar (sucrose). Changes in food additives have brought the discussion along with whether the food is the source of nowadays diseases or not. In this dissertation, changes in metabolism as a result of HFCS, which is a starch-based sweetener, intake to body were investigated in vivo to understand the role in development of obesity in Sprague-Dawley rats. For this aim, peach nectars, which have either HFCS or sucrose at the same amount (10 %) as sweetener, were added to their daily ration. Peach nectar was not given to a group which fed as a control. During the feeding period, chow consumption and body weight were measured weekly while peach nectar consumption was measured daily. At the end of the study, thoracic circumference, abdominal circumference and body length of rats were measured, hepatic, abdominal and gonadal fats were weighted. Percentage change of body weight, body mass index (BMI) and Lee index were calculated. Blood samples were collected both at the beginning and at the end of study and biochemical parameters (glucose, insulin, leptin and triglyceride) were investigated. There were no statistical differences found in peach nectar consumption, percentage change of body weight, BMI, Lee index, glucose, insulin, leptin and triglyceride between groups. There was a difference determined between chow consumption of groups. The most chow consumed group was control, while the least chow consumed group was sucrose. According to these results, consumption of HFCS containing peach nectar at the given amount in this study is not support the formation of obesity more than consumption of sucrose containing peach nectar.