Alternative Approaches and Plant-based Bioactive Compounds for the Management of Health Consequences Due to High-fructose Corn SyrupUse: A Comprehensive Review

Introduction: High-fructose corn syrup is a commonly used sweetener in processed foods, beverages, and drink products, and it has been implicated in numerous metabolic disorders such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular complications. The rising health consequences associated with high-fructose corn syrup consumption have prompted interest in alternative, plant-based bioactive compounds as therapeutic strategies. Methods: This review utilized PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases for literature search and data collection using “High-fructose corn syrup”, Health effects of high-fructose corn syrup”, “Alternative approaches for Managing Health effect of high-fructose corn syrup”, and “Bioactive compounds for managing consequences due to high-fructose corn syrup use” terminologies. Result: The findings of this review suggested that alternative approaches and plant-based therapies, such as utilizing bioactive compounds from herbs, fruits, and vegetables, offer promising potential in mitigating high-fructose corn syrup-induced health consequences. These alternative approaches reduce the effects of health consequences, and phytoconstituents exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and insulin-sensitizing effects that can counteract the metabolic disturbances caused by excessive fructose intake. Discussion: This review explores various alternative approaches, such as lifestyle modification, alteration in organ functions, stress management, detoxification, and plant-based bioactive compounds that can modulate metabolic pathways affected by high-fructose corn syrup, and also highlights specific plants and phytochemicals with demonstrated efficacy in preclinical and clinical studies. Emphasizing the therapeutic value of plant-based interventions may support the development of safer, holistic approaches to managing high-fructose corn syrup-related health issues. Conclusion: The overconsumption of high-fructose corn syrup has been closely associated with the development of numerous metabolic and inflammatory disorders, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disorders. In response to the health burden created by high-fructose corn syrup, alternative approaches like lifestyle modification, alterations in organ functions, stress management, detoxification, and plant-based therapies like the use of bioactive drugs represent a sustainable and holistic path toward improving the health of populations affected by excessive high-fructose corn syrup intake.