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Fructose may cause metabolic syndrome by increasing uric acids levels
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Monday, August 28, 2006 2:19 am Email this article
Our increase in fructose consumption may be part of the reason for the increase in metabolic syndrome according to a hypothesis put forth by researchers at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Uric AcidFructose increases uric acid which reduce nitric oxide
“Fructose-unlike other sugars-causes serum uric acid levels to rise rapidly,” the paper notes. And “uric acid reduces levels of endothelial nitric oxide, a key mediator of insulin action.”
Nitric Oxide
Animals deficient in nitric oxide develop insulin resistance
“Animals deficient in endothelial [nitric oxide] develop insulin resistance and other features of the metabolic syndrome,” they continue.
Fructose and metabolic syndrome
Fructose increases uric acid which reduces nitric oxide which causes insulin resistance
“As such, we propose that the epidemic of the metabolic syndrome is due in part to fructose-induced hyperuricemia that reduces endothelial [nitric oxide] levels and induces insulin resistance.”
Elevated Uric Acid
Uric acid levels above 5.5 mg/dl predict high insulin levels
“[W]e observed that a serum uric acid level above 5.5 mg/dl independently predicted the development of hyperinsulinemia at both 6 and 12 months in nondiabetic patients with first-time myocardial infarction.”
Conclusion
Fructose may cause insulin resitance by elevating uric acid levels
“Fructose-induced hyperuricemia results in endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance, and might be a novel causal mechanism of the metabolic syndrome,” the authors conclude.
REFERENCE
Nakagawa T, Tuttle K, Short R, Johnson R. Hypothesis: Fructose-induced hyperuricemia as a causal mechanism for the epidemic of the metabolic syndrome. Nat Clin Pract Nephrol. 2005 Dec, 1(2):80-86.
AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION
T. Nakagawa
Research Assistant Professor
Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, and Transplantation
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL, USA
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