In recent years, fructose has been the center of scientific as well as media attention⁽Reference Rippe and Angelopoulos¹⁾. The actual fructose consumption is, however, not clear for many non-U.S. populations. The aim of this study was to estimate the fructose consumption and its main food sources in a representative sample of the Dutch population.

A total of 3,817 men and women aged 7–69 years from the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey 2007–2010 were studied⁽Reference van Rossum, Fransen, Verkaik-Kloosterman, Buurma-Rethans and Ocké²⁾. Values for fructose content of products were assigned using food composition tables from the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Finland, and Denmark. Diet was assessed with two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. Habitual fructose consumption was estimated with the Multiple Source Method⁽Reference Haubrock, Nothlings, Volatier, Dekkers, Ocke and Harttig³⁾.

Median habitual fructose intakes are shown in the table.

Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation or median [P25 – P75].

Of total fructose intake, 67% was consumed as sucrose and 33% was consumed as free fructose. Soft drinks constituted the main food source of total fructose (13–29% across age and sex categories), followed by juices (9–12%), fruit (9–18%), and cake and cookies (9–11%).

Fructose consumption in the general Dutch population was somewhat lower than most recent figures from the U.S. Within the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III from 1988–1994, mean fructose intake was estimated at 55 gram/day comprising 10 en%⁽Reference Vos, Kimmons, Gillespie, Welsh and Blanck⁴⁾. Considering that soft drinks, cakes, and cookies usually provide excess calories and only few nutrients, lowering its consumption will help to maintain in energy balance.