Effects of high fructose corn syrup on ethanol self-administration in rats

The addition of sweeteners to alcoholic beverages is thought to facilitate heavy alcohol consumption, and this may be of particular concern when the additive is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Four experiments in male Sprague-Dawley rats were performed to investigate whether the addition of 25% HFCS to ethanol (5%, 10%, and 20% v/v ethanol) would alter its intraoral operant self-administration, palatability, and sensitivity to food deprivation stress.

As anticipated, HFCS drastically increased ethanol intake, and this effect appeared driven by its caloric value. Importantly, HFCS increased the persistence of operant responding following extinction in animals trained to self-administer the combination, and the addition of HFCS to ethanol changed subsequent responses to ethanol, including increased palatability and intake.

These results in rats suggest that the addition of HFCS to the list of ingredients in sweetened alcoholic beverages could play a significant role in the harmful consumption of ethanol-containing beverages.