Fructose is one of the two major components of added sugar. It’s found in various sugary sweeteners and processed foods and used widely in food production.
Associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, its intake has increased substantially throughout the developed world in recent years.
A new study comes out by Swansea University in collaboration with researchers at the University of Bristol and the Francis Crick Institute in London suggests that high fructose diets could cause immune system damage. The study has shown that fructose causes the immune system to become inflamed, and that process produces more reactive molecules associated with inflammation.
Scientists noted, this kind of inflammation can damage cells and tissues. It can also lead to organs and body systems not working as they should and could lead to disease.
This study offers detailed insights on how fructose could be linked to diabetes and obesity – as low-level inflammation is often associated with obesity.
Dr. Nick Jones of Swansea University’s Medical School said: “Research into different components of our diet can help us understand what might contribute to inflammation and disease and what could be best harnessed to improve health and wellbeing.”
Dr. Emma Vincent in the Bristol Medical School: Populational Health Sciences (PHS) added: “Our study is exciting because it takes us a step further towards understanding why some diets can lead to ill health.”
Journal Reference:
- Jones, N., Blagih, J., Zani, F. et al. Fructose reprogrammes glutamine-dependent oxidative metabolism to support LPS-induced inflammation. Nat Commun 12, 1209 (2021). DOI:10.1038/s41467-021-21461-4
