Factors such as sugar intake and obesity have been linked to several behavioral disorders such as bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Alzheimer's disease. A recent study looks at how fructose and uric acid may trigger hyperactive behavior.
The study by the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, the University of Denver, and New England Inpatient Specialists was recently published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior. The researchers hypothesized that hyperactive disorders such as impulsivity and mania go back to ancient foraging instincts triggered by a high intake of fructose.
Fructose is a type of sugar commonly found in honey, fruits, and vegetables. It is also a component in high fructose corn syrup, commonly found in the Western diet. Uric acid was also accounted for which is a byproduct of fructose after metabolism. High levels of uric acid is an indicator of several illnesses such as gout.
Storing energy as fat and how fructose triggers "an evolutionary-based survival pathway that stimulates foraging behavior" have resulted in linking metabolic syndrome to high levels of sugar intake. Researchers have also determined that a moderate intake of fructose may help animals store fat during a shortage of resources or starvation.
Fructose Stimulating Behavioral Disorders
On the other hand, consuming large amounts of fructose "stimulates craving, impulsivity, risk-taking, and aggression that increases the risk for ADHD, bipolar disease and aggressive behavior," wrote the authors. Moreover, salty food and high-glycemic carbohydrates can be converted into fructose during metabolism. These include soda, refined sugar, fruit juices, and fruits such as apples and grapes.
As a result, uric acid produced after fructose metabolism may stimulate pathways that trigger depression and "desensitization of hedonic responses." Fructose intake, namely in Western society, significantly increased by nearly 40 times greater than the standard intake in the 1700s. Scientists believe this is a contributing factor to the obesity and diabetes epidemic.
Richard Johnson from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus said, "behavioral Disorders are common and are associated with obesity and western diet." Excessive intake of fructose in the form of high fructose corn syrup and refined sugars may largely contribute to these conditions.
Fructose triggers a response similar to starvation since it lowers the energy in cells, explained the team. The foraging response stimulates high-risk behaviors such as impulsivity and aggression as a survival response to securing food. Moreover, overactivation of this behavior leads to conditions such as ADHD and bipolar disorder.
Risky Behavior in Animals
Another recent study from the University of Jena analyzed how hunger triggers high-risk behaviors in animals. Animals, regardless of species, that experienced hunger or restricted diets had two responses leading the risky behavior.
One response was the needs-based response of having much to lose, such as reproductive potential. The second trigger of risky behavior was for maximum survival, such as exploring new territory or migrating in search of food. "It would be interesting to investigate whether condition dependence of risk‐taking behavior also applies to humans," wrote the authors.
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