Regular intake of high fructose corn syrup can negatively impact memory and learning ability, a new UCLA study published in the May 15 issue of the Journal of Physiology says.
Researchers tested the ability of maze-trained rats to find their way to the finish after having been dosed with corn syrup for six weeks. The rats, which were not given an omega-3 supplement, moved slower and their brains showed a "decline in synaptic activity," said Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, professor of neurosurgery at UCLA, in a press release.
The omega-3 deprived rats also showed a resistance to insulin which "appears to disturb memory and learning," Gomez-Pinilla said. "Our study shows that a high-fructose diet harms the brain as well as the body. This is something new."
The researchers added if regularly consumes corn syrup, then omega-3 supplements ought to be taken as well. The USDA estimates Americans consume 40 pounds of corn syrup each annually in snack and sweets, soft drinks and meals.
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