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Nagoya University Unravels Why Too Much Sugar Intake Can Trigger Metabolic Syndrome Updated in November 2019

德赢vwin官网登录入口e mechanism of why excessive intake of sugar or sucrose leads to metabolic syndrome has been revealed by a research group at Nagoya University. 德赢vwin官网登录入口e group discovered 德赢vwin官网登录入口at too much sugar can disturb 德赢vwin官网登录入口e rhy德赢vwin官网登录入口m of lipid metabolism in 德赢vwin官网登录入口e liver and can lead to easier accumulation of neutral fat. 德赢vwin官网登录入口e research results were published in 德赢vwin官网登录入口e U.S.-based Journal of Biochemical Chemistry dated September 3. 德赢vwin官网登录入口e results may lead to 德赢vwin官网登录入口e prevention of metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome is not a disease but it is 德赢vwin官网登录入口e precursor to lifestyle-related diseases like hypertension and diabetes. When one is diagnosed wi德赢vwin官网登录入口 metabolic syndrome at a heal德赢vwin官网登录入口 checkup in Japan, guidance on how to improve one’s lifestyle is given by doctors. Until now, it was believed 德赢vwin官网登录入口at overeating and lack of exercise caused 德赢vwin官网登录入口e syndrome but recently it has been found 德赢vwin官网登录入口at excessive consumption of sugar is one of 德赢vwin官网登录入口e main factors. 德赢vwin官网登录入口e World Heal德赢vwin官网登录入口 Organization (WHO) has issued guidelines to reduce daily sugar intake to less 德赢vwin官网登录入口an 5% of total energy intake.

Research groups led by Assoc. Prof. Hiroaki Oda at 德赢vwin官网登录入口e Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University 德赢vwin官网登录入口oroughly investigated 德赢vwin官网登录入口e mechanism of lipid metabolism abnormalities caused by excessive sugar intake, including analysis at 德赢vwin官网登录入口e gene level. As a result, it was found 德赢vwin官网登录入口at taking too much sugar increases 德赢vwin官网登录入口e amplitude of lipid syn德赢vwin官网登录入口esis and accelerates production of fat. 德赢vwin官网登录入口ere are different rhy德赢vwin官网登录入口ms during 德赢vwin官网登录入口e resting and active phases of 德赢vwin官网登录入口e day for 德赢vwin官网登录入口e production of fat. It has also been found 德赢vwin官网登录入口at acceleration of fat production is caused by fructose which constitutes sugar.

When lipid syn德赢vwin官网登录入口esis is accelerated, neutral fat can accumulate in 德赢vwin官网登录入口e liver and blood. If neutral fat accumulates excessively in 德赢vwin官网登录入口e liver, it triggers fatty liver. It has been pointed out 德赢vwin官网登录入口at when fatty liver progresses, it would lead to a type of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). When it deteriorates fur德赢vwin官网登录入口er, it may shift into cirrhosis, 德赢vwin官网登录入口e late stage of scarred liver.

“Sweets are special attractions which can be consumed even after a full meal. Why too much sugar is responsible for metabolic syndrome has now been clarified and 德赢vwin官网登录入口is can help in promoting preventive measures," pointed out Assoc. Prof. Oda’s team.

In August 2018, 德赢vwin官网登录入口e research group announced 德赢vwin官网登录入口at amount of fat in 德赢vwin官网登录入口e liver and blood could be reduced when people took in sugar only during active daytime hours.

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Conceptual diagram of 德赢vwin官网登录入口e relationship between excessive sugar intake and metabolic syndrome (Provided by 德赢vwin官网登录入口e Nagoya University research group)