Effect of Sugars in Solutions on Immediate and Delayed Word List Recall in Normal Weight Boys

Abstract

<strong>Background:</strong> Dietary glucose improves memory performance in several adult populations; however, there are no comparative studies of commonly consumed sugars on memory performance in children. <strong>Objectives:</strong> The objective was to compare the effect of glucose, sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup-55 (HFCS) solutions on immediate and delayed word list recall in 9 to 14 year-old normal weight boys. <strong>Patients and Methods:</strong> In a repeated measures design, 15 normal weight boys received, in random order, preloads (200 kcal/250 mL) of glucose, sucrose, HFCS, or non-caloric sucralose control. The boys were presented with a 15 item word list to memorize 15 minutes after ingestion of the preloads and asked to recall the words immediately after, and at 30, 45, 60 and 90 minutes. <strong>Results:</strong> There were no significant differences among the glucose, sucrose and HFCS preloads on word list recall compared with the non-caloric sucralose control at any of the time points. However, word list recall was highest at 15 minutes, and decreased over time to 90 minutes after all preloads (P < 0.0001). <strong>Conclusions:</strong> Sugars in solutions do not differ in their effects on word list memory recall compared with a non-caloric sucralose control in 9 to 14 year-old normal weight boys.