In the last few years it became popular to sell health books blaming fructose for obesity and, more recently, to blame all sugars. Pancake syrup bottle today highlight that they have no high fructose corn syrup on giant labels, while the first ingredient is still corn syrup - which is still fructose, just in random rather than precise amounts.

A new study found that fructose does not have any impact on an emerging marker for the risk of cardiovascular disease known as postprandial triglycerides - beyond the general impact of eating a lot of calories, anyway, but that applies to all foods.

What gets left out of health fad claims is that fructose is naturally found in fruit, vegetables and honey, it is a simple sugar that together with glucose forms sucrose, the basis of table sugar. 

Dr. John Sievenpiper, a researcher in the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre of St. Michael's Hospital, conducted a meta-analysis of existing studies on fructose and its impact on the level of triglycerides, a fat found in blood, after eating. Testing for these triglycerides—in addition to the standard testing for blood glucose levels—is becoming more common for people trying to determine their risk for cardiovascular disease, although health care professionals remain divided on its usefulness.

"Fructose doesn't behave any differently than other refined carbohydrates," he said. "The increases you see are when fructose provides extra calories."