It is well known that consuming too much sugar can lead to obesity and diabetes, but what sugary diets do to the immune system has always been a mystery that perplexed scientists. Now researchers from the UK say that high-fructose diets may prevent the immune system from functioning properly.
This damage can lead to organ dysfunction, inflammation, and illness. Fructose is a common ingredient in sugary drinks, sweets, and a variety of processed foods, and previous studies have linked this type of added sugar to the development of type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and other metabolic disorders. Despite being known to be harmful, researchers have found that people around the world are consuming more and more of these products each year. A team from Swansea University, the University of Bristol, and the Francis Crick Institute has set out to investigate how excessive fructose affects the rest of the body, not just waist circumference and body weight.
**Formation of Harmful Molecules and Inflammation:** The new study's findings revealed that consuming fructose sugar leads to inflammation in the human immune system. When this occurs, the body produces more reactive molecules that cause inflammation, which can damage various cells and tissues. This damage can cause organs and other systems to stop functioning properly, putting the patient at greater risk for various diseases. The study's authors add that this may explain how high fructose consumption contributes to obesity, as previous reports have found that excess weight is also linked to high levels of inflammation.
Dr. Nick Jones from the Swansea Medical School says, "Researching the various components of our diet can help us understand what may contribute to inflammation and disease and what can be harnessed better to improve our health and wellbeing." Dr. Emma Vincent from Bristol Medical School adds, "Our study is exciting because it takes us a step forward in understanding why some diets lead to poor health." Additionally, the researchers say that their findings add to the growing evidence that sugary products do more harm than good for humans, and they emphasize that public health policymakers need to take all of this into account when making recommendations about daily dietary guidelines.
