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Enhanced adrenomedullary response and increased susceptibility to neuroglycopenia: mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of sugar ingestion in healthy children
To increase our understanding on the mechanism behind the adverse effects of simple sugar consumption on behavior and cognition, Jones et al. (1995) tested children and adults on their susceptibility to develop neuroglycopenia (using the hypoglycemic clamp and P300 auditory evoked potentials measurements). In the Children’s Clinical Research Center of Yale University School of Medicine, 25 healthy children and 23 young adults were assessed on their symptomatic, metabolic and hormonal responses to a standard oral glucose load (1.75 gm/kg; maximum, 120 gm). The readings were similar for both groups regarding their glucose and insulin levels at baseline and after being given glucose, including their nadir glucose levels 3 to 5 hours post-administration. The late glucose decrease elevated plasma epinephrine levels twofold higher in children than in the young adult participants and significantly increased hypoglycemic symptom scores in children (p < 0.01), but not in adults. Whereas, 6 healthy children in the control group showed no significant changes in serum glucose, hormone concentrations, or hypoglycemic symptom scores following consumption of a sugar-free drink. During the hypoglycemic clamp, P300 potentials did not change in any of the 8 adults until the plasma glucose concentration was lowered to 3.0 mmol/L (54 mg/dl), whereas similar changes in P300 potentials were observed in six of seven children at glucose levels 3.6 to 4.2 mmol/L (65 to 75 mg/dl). The negative behavioral and cognitive impact of sugar intake in children may be explained by their enhanced adrenomedullary responses to modest reductions in plasma glucose concentration, and their heightened vulnerability to developing neuroglycopenia. [NPID: sugar, processed food, behavior, cognition, neuroglycopenia, oral glucose]
Year: 1995
