Common Food Additive May Make You Absorb More Fat, Study Finds
Summary
Scientists at the University of California, Irvine found that high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a common sweetener in processed foods, may increase the body's absorption of fat by changing the gut. In experiments with mice, blocking fructose processing in the intestines led to less fat being absorbed, which kept the mice leaner and more insulin sensitive.Key Facts
- High-fructose corn syrup is found in many processed foods like sodas, cereals, and candies.
- Researchers studied how HFCS affects fat absorption by focusing on the small intestine in mice.
- An enzyme called Ketohexokinase-C helps break down fructose in the gut.
- Mice without this enzyme gained less weight and absorbed less fat despite eating the same calories.
- Changes in gut bacteria caused by fructose affected tiny intestinal vessels called lacteals that absorb fat.
- Transferring gut bacteria from modified mice to normal mice also reduced fat absorption.
- The study suggests fructose influences weight gain not just by calories but by changing fat absorption in the gut.
- These results are based on mice and may not directly apply to humans; more research is needed.
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