The Effect of High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Sucrose, and Water on the Weight Gain of Mice

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Kate Steele (A4) Introduction The Effect of High-Fructose Corn Syrup, Sucrose, and Water on the Weight Gain of Mice The purpose of the experiment was to determine if mice would gain more weight when given a 20% high-fructose corn syrup solution, a 20% sucrose solution, or water. This experiment was conducted because of the high prevalence of obesity in the United States and worldwide. More than half of the men and women over twenty years old in the United States are considered overweight (Elliot). One-fourth of the individuals who are overweight are also considered to be obese (Elliot). The rationale for doing this experiment was that accurate information related to the effects of consuming high-fructose corn syrup, as well as sucrose, can help people make better dietary choices. The hypothesis is that if groups of mice are given a 20% high-fructose corn syrup solution, a 20% sucrose solution, or water, then the mice given a 20% high-fructose corn syrup solution would have the greatest mean weight gain over a thirty day period. The independent variable in the experiment was the three different liquids given to each of the three groups of mice. One of these liquids was a 20% high-fructose corn syrup solution. High-fructose corn syrup is a liquid sweetener that is used in many processed foods and drinks (White). It was first created in Japan and used in commercial food preparation in the late 1960s (Today). It is still used because it is cheaper than sugar and saves food producers money (High). The high-fructose corn syrup used in this experiment, HFCS-55, is the most common form and is manufactured from cornstarch which involves a process of combining 55% fructose molecules with 45% glucose molecules (High). The 20% sucrose solution used in this experiment was made using Domino pure cane sugar as the sucrose. Both sucrose and high-fructose corn

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