Consuming fructose in large quantities changes the way the intestinal villi work. This can cause more fat to be deposited in the body. A new study has been published in Nature.
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People are now eating much more fructose than ever before. One reason for this is the widespread use of fructose corn syrup in the food industry. Consuming large amounts of it is associated with a risk of obesity and certain types of cancer. Previous studies have shown that there may be a cause-and-effect relationship between fructose and colorectal cancer. In animal experiments, it accelerated the growth of tumors.
In a new study, American scientists sought to understand the biological mechanisms of the effect of fructose on health. They focused on how it affected the villi that line the small intestine. Thanks to these villi, the surface of the intestines increases, which promotes better absorption of nutrients.
Scientists conducted an experiment on mice, during which half of the rodents received a high-fructose diet, and half received a standard diet. The results showed that mice fed fructose had 25-40% longer intestinal villi than control rodents. Villous elongation has been associated with increased nutrient absorption, weight gain, and fat deposition.
“Fructose is structurally different from other sugars, such as glucose, and is metabolized differently in the body. Our study showed that the primary metabolite of fructose promotes villous elongation and the growth of intestinal tumors,” explained Dr. Marcus DaSilva Goncalves from Cornell University, co-author of the study.
Scientists explain the connection between fructose, intestinal villi length and fat deposition from an evolutionary point of view.
“For mammals, especially those that hibernate in temperate climates, fructose is very available in the fall when fruits ripen. Fructose may help animals absorb more nutrients and convert them into fat, which is needed in the winter,” said Samuel R. Taylor1, also of Cornell University.
Goncalves added that fructose itself is not harmful – its excessive consumption is harmful. There is too much of it in modern food. In his opinion, the human body is not designed for such quantities.
In the future, scientists want to test whether these discoveries made in mice are true for humans.