Glycemic carbohydrate and health: background and synopsis of the symposium.

Carbohydrates are global foodstuffs and important energy sources. They also influence many physiologic functions, including brain function and physical performance and are ultimately related to human health. In 1998, ILSI Japan formed a team to conduct research on "The Medical and Nutritional Aspects of Sugars." The research included studies of several new aspects of the metabolic characteristics and physiologic effects of sugars. This paper presents some highlights of our research, including the background of the project, the metabolic characteristics of sugars, and the effect of sugars on glycemic response, memory, and appetite and food intake in humans, etc.