Excessive intake of sugar: An accomplice of inflammation

Abstract

High sugar intake has long been recognized as a potential environmental risk factor for increased incidence of many non-communicable diseases, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Dietary sugars are mainly hexoses, including glucose, fructose, sucrose and High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS). These sugars are primarily absorbed in the gut as fructose and glucose. The consumption of high sugar beverages and processed foods has increased significantly over the past 30 years. Here, we summarize the effects of consuming high levels of dietary hexose on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and low-grade chronic inflammation. Based on these reported findings, we emphasize that dietary sugars and mixed processed foods may be a key factor leading to the occurrence and aggravation of inflammation. We concluded that by revealing the roles that excessive intake of hexose has on the regulation of human inflammatory diseases are fundamental questions that need to be solved urgently. Moreover, close attention should also be paid to the combination of high glucose-mediated immune imbalance and tumor development, and strive to make substantial contributions to reverse tumor immune escape.

Dietary Capsaicin: A Spicy Way to Improve Cardio-Metabolic Health?

“…More is known about the function of TRPV1-expressing sensory nerves. For example, these afferents play an important role in maintaining the low-grade chronic inflammation that characterizes metabolic syndrome [ 91 , 92 , 93 , 96 , 98 ]. TRPV1-positive nerves are also a major source of CGRP [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”

“…Capsaicin, however, may reach high concentrations in the stool to correct dysbacteriosis [ 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 143 , 144 ], acting as a probiotic nutraceutical. Since dysbacteriosis, and resultant LPS endotoxemia [ 148 ], may help maintain the low-grade chronic inflammation that characterizes metabolic syndrome [ 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 , 90 , 91 , 92 , 93 , 96 ], dietary capsaicin could indirectly exert an anti-inflammatory action by restoring a healthy gut microbiota.…”

“…Most authorities agree that central obesity is the defining factor in metabolic syndrome [ 7 , 8 ]. Obesity is associated with insulin resistance, a major component in metabolic syndrome, through chronic low-grade inflammation [ 91 , 92 , 93 ]. Eventually, insulin resistance progresses into type-2 diabetes [ 94 ].…”

“…Chronic low-grade inflammation is thought to be a defining event in the pathogenesis obesity and insulin resistance [ 91 , 92 , 93 , 96 ]. This inflammatory reaction may be also intimately related to the metabolic defects seen in metabolic syndrome.…”

The role of Th17 cells in inflammatory bowel disease and the research progress

“…For example, in a pilot study in humans subjects, a moderate high-salt challenge increased Th17 cells by reducing intestinal survival of Lactobacillus spp. Excessive sugar intake mediates the increase in the cytokines IL-1β and Th17 cells, which induce inflammation ( 139 ). Edible bird's nest can recuperate dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced UC in C57BL/6J mice by recovering the Th17/Treg cell balance ( 103 ).…”