AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR NUTRITION

2015 SCIENTIFIC SESSIONS AND ANNUAL MEETING AT EB

SYMPOSIUM APPLICATION

(Applications due March 15, 2014. Please limit to 4 pages or less)

Session Title:

“Sweeteners and Health: Current Understandings, Controversies, Recent Research Findings, and Directions for Future Research”

Session Chair(s) Contact Information

Session Chair
Name / James O. Hill, Ph.D.
Organization / University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Health and Wellness Center
Address / 13001 E. 17th Pl.
Aurora, CO 80045
Email /
Phone Number / (303) 724-9355
Session Co-Chair
Name / James M. Rippe, M.D.
Organization / Founder and Director, Rippe Lifestyle Institute
Professor, Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida
Address / 21 North Quinsigamond Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA 01545
Email /
Phone Number / 508 756-1228

Organizer of Proposal (if not Session Chair)

Organizer of Proposal
Name / James M. Rippe, MD
Organization / Founder and Director, Rippe Lifestyle Institute
Professor, Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida
Address / 21 North Quinsigamond Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA 01545
Email /
Phone Number / 508 756-1228

Should the organizer be copied on all planning emails?

X Yes

ÿ  No

General Description of Session: Summarize the overall theme and specific topics to be reviewed. Reference new and/or emerging research that will be discussed, particularly research topics found in the ASN Research Priorities (see below). Explain how this session will be unique and useful to attendees. (No more than 350 words, please.)

The metabolism and health effects of both sugars and non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) remain controversial and subjects of intense scientific debate. Fructose containing sugars are particularly controversial. It has been argued that the fructose moiety in commonly consumed sugars such as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and sucrose may increase the risk of dyslipidemia, hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and both hepatic and whole body insulin resistance due to differences in metabolism between fructose and glucose in the liver. Several recent ecological analyses have been interpreted by the investigators who conducted them to suggest that consumption of sugar also increases the risk of diabetes. Some investigators have also argued that metabolic abnormalities caused by fructose containing sugars are the underlying cause of metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and even some cancers. They have maintained that sugar consumption is the root problem of these conditions rather than obesity. Other investigators have argued that carbohydrate calories are different and more dangerous than calories from other macronutrients. The debate over the effects of sugar on the brain and whether sugars may be “addictive” continues to attract attention not only in the scientific community, but also in the media and public at large. The health effects of added sugars are likely to remain prominent issues since the Advisory Committee for the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015 has identified this as an area of emphasis and the FDA has recommended a separate line for added sugars on the new proposed nutrition facts panel. New information combining neurologic findings (both from functional MRI and computerized cognitive testing) and other aspects of human metabolism and physiology shed new light on the interaction between these two areas of scientific inquiry.

Non-nutritive sweeteners have been involved in recent controversies as well. Epidemiologic studies have linked consumption of NNS to increased risk of miscarriage and hypertension. A recent cross sectional study suggested that overweight and obese individuals who consumed NNS, consume more total calories than individuals in these weight categories who consumed sugar sweetened beverages.

The purpose of this symposium will be to provide a broad review of current knowledge about sweeteners and health, present results from recent studies including randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses and review gaps in current knowledge and directions for future research. The topics to be covered in this symposium have not been recently reviewed at ASN symposia at Experimental Biology.

All of the speakers for this symposium are well qualified to speak on their assigned topics. Each has done important research in the area that they will be discussing. Moreover, this symposium deals directly with the following three of the Nutrition Research Priorities from ASN: Nutrition Related Behaviors (particularly brain function), The Role of Nutrition in Health Maintenance (particularly achieving energy balance), and the Role of Nutrition in Medical Management (particularly the disease progression and prevention).

Please provide at least three learning objectives for this session:

At the end of this sessions, attendees will be able to:
1. / Understand whether or not there is a unique linkage between sugar consumption and obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well as other metabolic diseases and explore controversies in this area.
2. / Explore recent data from prospective randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta analyses which combine both neurologic and physiologic parameters over time.
3. / Understand the role of NNS in appetite and whether or not there are linkages between NNS consumption and chronic diseases such as obesity.
4. / Explore key questions that remain, including gaps in current knowledge and needs for future research.

Please select the ASN Research Priorities that this session relates to the most. Check all that apply. Select none if not applicable.

ÿ  Variability in Responses to Diet and Food

ÿ  The Impact of Nutrition on Healthy Growth, Development and Reproduction

X The Role of Nutrition in Health Maintenance
X The Role of Nutrition in Medical Management
X Nutrition-Related Behaviors
ÿ  Food Supply/ Environment

ÿ  Tools to Advance Nutrition Research

PRESENTATION TITLES AND PROPOSED SPEAKERS:

OPENING COMMENTS: James Hill, Ph.D. (confirmed) 5 minutes

Speaker 1: John Sievenpiper, M.D., Ph.D. (confirmed) 20-25 minutes

“The Effects of Fructose Containing Sugars on Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, and Cardiometabolic Disease: Scientific Evidence versus Conjecture”

Name / John Sievenpiper, M.D., Ph.D.
Organization / St. Michael’s Hospital
Address / #6137-61 Queen Street East, Toronto, ON M5C 2T2, CANADA
Email /
Phone Number / 416-867-7475

Speaker 2: James M. Rippe, MD: (confirmed) 20- 25 minutes

“Current State of Knowledge in Sugars and Health: Results of Recent Randomized Controlled Trials: Neurology meets Physiology”

Name / James M. Rippe, M.D.
Organization / Founder and Director, Rippe Lifestyle Institute
Professor, Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida
Address / 21 North Quinsigamond Avenue, Shrewsbury, MA 01545
Email /
Phone Number / 508 756-1228

Speaker 3: John Fernstrom, Ph.D.: (confirmed) 20–25 minutes

“Non-Nutritive Sweeteners: Solution or Problem?: Recent Research Findings and Implications for Weight Management and Obesity”

Name / John D. Fernstrom, PhD
Organization / Professor of Psychiatry & Pharmacology/Chemical Biology
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Address / 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA
Email /
Phone Number / 412.246.5297

Speaker 4: – Mei Chung, Ph.D., MPH: (confirmed) 20-25 minutes

“Sugars and Health: Current Understandings, Gaps in Knowledge, and Opportunities for Research”

Name / Mei Chung, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Organization / Nutrition/Infection Unit, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine
Address / Boston, MA
Email /
Phone Number / (617) 636-5989

Do you wish to have this considered as part of the Education Track? The Education Track is reserved for interactive, smaller group sessions (less than 200) that are focused on an educational or professional development topic.

ÿ  Yes

X No

Which ASN member groups (councils, RIS groups) and participating societies will be most interested in this session? [Please list the groups.]

ASN Member Groups (Please mark all that apply)

X Medical Nutrition Council (MNC)

X Global Nutrition Council (GNC)

ÿ  Nutritional Sciences Council (NSC)

ÿ  Aging and Chronic Disease RIS

ÿ  CARIG RIS

X Community and Public Health RIS

ÿ  Diet & Cancer RIS

ÿ  Dietary Bioactive Components RIS

X Energy & Macronutrient Metabolism RIS

ÿ  Experimental Animal Nutrition RIS

ÿ  Lactation RIS

ÿ  Nutrient-Gene Interactions RIS

ÿ  Nutrition Education RIS

ÿ  Nutrition Translation RIS

ÿ  Nutritional Epidemiology RIS

ÿ  Nutritional Immunology RIS

X Obesity RIS

ÿ  Vitamins and Minerals RIS

Participating Societies:

X ASN

ÿ  Physiology (APS)

ÿ  Pharmacology (ASPE)

ÿ  Pathology (ASIP)

Session organizers are expected to assist with obtaining funding to cover expenses related to the presentation of accepted sessions. Do you have funding to support this activity?

X Yes [Please indicate the company(ies) and amount(s).] (See Comment)

ÿ  No [If no, please list potential funding sources.]

I have had some preliminary discussions with potential funding sources and believe that funding will be available to support this activity if it is accepted for presentation.

Indicate which, if any, ASN RIS, Councils or Committees are endorsing this session:

It is anticipated that the Medical Nutrition Council of ASN will endorse this session.

Describe any potential conflicts of interest of symposia organizers.

Rippe Lifestyle Institute (RLI) has received unrestricted grant funding to conduct research trials and/or received consulting fees from a variety of companies, organizations, publishers or trade associations that utilize, market or publish information about fructose, high fructose corn syrup or sucrose and hence, have an ongoing interest in the metabolism and health effect of these sugars.

Budget Notes:

Funding will be sought by ASN to pay advance-purchase travel for speakers who are not members of the Society. Travel reimbursement is not provided to ASN members. A travel stipend and/or honorarium of up to $500 may be provided to ASN member speakers, based on funding. International airfares are typically limited to $2,500. Symposia may include up to 4 speakers, of which no more than one should be from outside of the US. Special requests (e.g., 5 speakers, more than one international speaker) will be considered on a case by case basis.

If you have any questions about the status of your session proposal,

Please, contact Moira Guenther at or 301-634-7077.

Thank You for Your Submission.