Death by Sugar: The Impact of Sugar on Acutely Ill Patients

•The byproduct of sugar metabolism, known as advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), are linked to deleterious human health outcomes.•Controversy remains around the association of obesity and outcomes in critically ill patients.•The average US citizen consumes 80 pounds of sugar annually.•Excess sugar consumption decreases the body’s ability to mount an immune response.

In 2012, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 78 million Americans were considered obese, with a body mass index > 30. Americans, on average, consume 80 pounds of sugar annually. Sugar is converted through metabolism into advanced glycation end-products, which are linked to worse health outcomes in hospitalized patients. In this article we review the different types of sugar typically consumed by Americans and its deleterious effects on human health.