High fructose diets could cause immune system damage

High fructose diets could cause immune system damage


New research has indicated that consuming a diet high in the sugar fructose might prevent the proper functioning of peoples' immune systems in ways that has, until now, largely been unknown.

Fructose is commonly found in sugary drinks, sweets and processed foods and is used widely in food production. It is associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its intake has increased substantially throughout the developed world in recent years. However, understanding the impact of fructose on the immune system of people who consume it in high levels, has been limited until now.

The new study published in the journal Nature Communications shows that fructose causes the immune system to become inflamed and that process produces more reactive molecules which are associated with inflammation. Inflammation of this kind can go on to damage cells and tissues and contribute to organs and body systems not working as they should and could lead to disease.

The authors show that fructose reprograms cellular metabolic pathways to favour glutaminolysis and oxidative metabolism, which are required to support increased inflammatory cytokine production inboth LPS-treated human monocytes and mouse macrophages. A fructose-dependentincrease in mTORC1 activity drives translation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to LPS.

LPS-stimulated monocytes treated with fructose rely heavily on oxidative metabolism and have reduced flexibility in response to both glycolytic and mitochondrial inhibition, suggesting glycolysis and oxidative metabolism are inextricably coupled in these cells. The physiological implications of fructose exposure are demonstrated in a model of LPS-induced systemic inflammation, with mice exposed to fructose having increased levels of circulating IL-1β after LPS challenge.

The research also brings a deeper understanding about how fructose could be linked to diabetes and obesity - as low- level inflammation is often associated with obesity. It also builds on the growing body of evidence available to public health policy makers about the damaging effects of consuming high levels of fructose.

The senior author 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."

Another author said: 'Our study is exciting because it takes us a step further towards understanding why some diets can lead to ill health.'

https://www.swansea.ac.uk/press-office/news-events/news/2021/02/high-fructose-diets-could-cause-immune-system-damage---new-research-.php

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-21461-4

http://sciencemission.com/site/index.php?page=news&type=view&id=publications%2Ffructose-reprogrammes&filter=22

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