My July 2, 2020, Appeal to the NIH National Library of Medicine Re: PubChem CID 79025, Glucose (Blood Sugar) vs. Dextrose (Corn Sugar Derived from Cornstarch)

(Updated July 26, 2020)

             Based on testimonies from the 12K+ members of our corn allergy support groups, it is apparent that the vast majority of medical professionals are unaware that dextrose is the sugar derived from cornstarch per Code of Federal Regulation 21CFR184.1857; [1] and is, therefore, contraindicated for corn-allergic consumers/patients. [2]  However, these contraindication warnings remain inconsistent. [3]  It was also reported in one of our corn allergy support groups that a physician told  a corn-allergic patient that “No one can be allergic to dextrose;” and he proceeded to administer dextrose IV fluid to this patient in direct violation of the contraindication warning on the package insert, which resulted in a severe allergic reaction requiring emergency intervention.  As a result of this incident, it took me three years to forward corn allergy documentation to the majority of our nation’s hospitals, colleges of medicine, and colleges of pharmacy. [4-6] 

           

Glucose (Blood Sugar) vs. Dextrose (Corn Sugar Manufactured from Cornstarch)

            While conducting research on this topic, it became clear that many reference sources also lack adequate understanding of the critical difference between these two sugars (one natural; the other manufactured); e.g., Wikipedia erroneously redirects the reader to “Glucose” if “Dextrose” is searched on their website. [7]  I made a disturbing discovery today when I referenced the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine’s website; which may also explain (but not excuse) the lack of knowledge by medical professionals about the source of dextrose, thereby endangering the lives of corn-allergic consumers/patients. [8]           

            Glucose (blood sugar) and dextrose (corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch) may be biochemically identical (Molecular Formula: C₆H₁₂O₆); however, not with regard to their allergenicity; e.g., glucose (blood sugar) cannot provoke an allergic response, whereas dextrose (corn sugar derived from cornstarch) can prove fatal to anyone with an IgE-mediated allergy to corn. [9,10] 

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CRITICAL UPDATE

WE ARE CHALLENGING THE MOLECULAR FORMULA
THAT THE FDA HAS ASSIGNED TO CORN SUGAR IN 21CFR184.1857

 My January 6, 2021, Open Letter to the FDA Re: Critical Difference Between Glucose (Blood Sugar) and D-Glucose (Corn Sugar)
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2021/01/my-january-6-2021-open-letter-to-fda-re.html

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            Dextrose is corn sugar that is ADDED TO food/drug/biologic products.  It is NOT naturally occurring, and cannot be found in fruits or other plants; because it is a manufactured sugar from cornstarch.  Therefore, the following statement on the NIH National Library of Medicine’s website is not entirely correct:  "Alpha-D-Glucose is a primary source of energy for living organisms. It is naturally occurring and is found in fruits and other parts of plants in its free state. It is used therapeutically in fluid and nutrient replacement."

             Glucose (blood sugar) is the “primary source of energy for living organisms” - NOT CORN SUGAR!  Since dextrose is a manufactured sugar from cornstarch; it is impossible for corn sugar to be found "naturally" in fruits or anywhere else for that matter, unless it is ADDED TO a food/drug/biologic product.

            The NIH National Library of Medicine is erroneously equating glucose (blood sugar) with dextrose (corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch), which is why I believe that the majority of medical professionals remain oblivious to the danger of dextrose (corn sugar) for corn-allergic consumers/patients.

My July 2, 2020, Appeal to the NIH National Library of Medicine

            Based on the factual evidence I provided to the NIH National Library of Medicine regarding the difference between glucose and dextrose, it is my hope that they will revise their description of these two distinct forms of sugar to reflect these critical facts for the safety of corn-allergic consumers/patients. 

Diane H., Corn Allergy Advocate

Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/

Email:  cornallergyinitiative@gmail.com

Twitter:  @CornAllergy911

References

[1] CORN SUGAR (DEXTROSE), CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATION 21CFR184.1857

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=184.1857

[2] LACTATED RINGER’S IN 5% DEXTROSE CONTRAINDICATED FOR CORN-ALLERGIC PATIENTS

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2019/12/lactated-ringers-in-5-dextrose.html

[3] PETITION: DRUG PRODUCTS W/DEXTROSE MUST BE UNIFORMLY CONTRAINDICATED FOR CORN-ALLERGIC PATIENTS

https://www.change.org/p/u-s-department-of-health-and-human-services-medical-biologic-products-with-dextrose-must-be-contraindicated-for-corn-allergic-patients

[4] United States Hospitals/Health Systems Contacted Re: Protocol for Treating Corn-Allergic Patients

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2017/07/united-states-hospitalshealth-systems.html

[5] Colleges of Medicine Contacted Re: Protocol for Treating Corn-Allergic Patients

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2018/04/colleges-of-medicine-contacted-re.html

[6] Colleges of Pharmacy Contacted Re: Protocol for Treating Corn-Allergic Patients

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2018/05/colleges-of-pharmacy-contacted-re.html

[7] “Glucose” (Redirected from Dextrose)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glucose

[8] National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Database. alpha-D-Glucose, CID=79025, https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/alpha-D-Glucose (accessed on July 3, 2020)

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/alpha-D-Glucose

[9] Guharoy SR, Barajas M. Probable anaphylactic reaction to corn-derived dextrose solution. Vet Hum Toxicol. 1991;33(6):609-610.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1808842/

[10] College of Pharmacists of British Columbia, Warning: corn-related allergens,

Non-medicinal ingredients don’t appear on drug labels, ReadLinks, May/June 2007, Vol. 32, No. 3

http://library.bcpharmacists.org/6_Resources/6-7_ReadLinks/ReadLinks-MayJun2007.pdf

Additional References

Corn Allergy: A Potentially Life-Threatening Diagnosis

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2020/01/corn-allergy-potentially-life.html

June, 2020, Month-End Corn Allergy Statistics: 943.8% Increase in 84 Months

(Corn is ubiquitous & EXEMPT from FDA labeling requirements, resulting in underreporting & suppression of corn allergy statistics).

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2017/04/corn-allergy-statistics-monthly.html

Corn Allergy References, Surveys, Studies, Statistics, & Petitions

(Includes my submission to The Joint Commission, Congress, FDA, & U.S. Dept. of Health requesting emergency mandate that hospitals stock corn-free foods, liquids, & drugs.)

https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/2018/04/corn-allergy-reference-links.html

Reference Added July 24, 2020

The corn industry has been controlling the false narrative re: corn sugar derived from cornstarch (dextrose) by declaring dextrose "Nature's own body sugar" since 1941!  The United States government continues to propagate this false narrative, thereby endangering the lives of corn-allergic patients/consumers.  Again, dextrose (corn sugar manufactured from cornstarch) is NOT present in fruit!

https://candyprofessor.com/2010/09/29/dextrose-all-american-corn-sugar/#:~:text=But%20by%201866%2C%20someone%20figured,dextrose%20from%20that%20corn%20starch

My July 26, 2020, Email to the NIH National Library of Medicine:

NLM Communications Team:

"For your edification:

The FDA confirms that dextrose is a food [or drug/biologic] additive.

If dextrose was “natural,” it would not be included on the FDA’s Food Additive Status List as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), 184.1857.  It is a manufactured ingredient.

https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/food-additive-status-list#ftnD

Since glucose (blood sugar) is natural, glucose is NOT included on the FDA's Food Additive Status List.  

Furthermore, your statement ". . . reflects the chemical community’s accepted definition and terms, . . ." is not an acceptable argument for using these terms interchangeably."

Cordially,

Diane H., Corn Allergy Advocate
Corn Allergy Advocacy/Resources
https://cornallergyadvocacyresources.blogspot.com/
Email:  cornallergyinitiative@gmail.com
Twitter:  @CornAllergy911