Sugar-free, low-fat diet tied to insulin resistance in mouse study

• Researchers on the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait examined the results of feeding mice a sugar-free, low-fat food regimen, which they in comparison with a management group.
• The mice on the sugar-free food regimen developed insulin resistance and different metabolic adjustments.
• The sugar-free group additionally skilled elevated irritation in each the colon and liver.

Many individuals who begin a brand new food regimen cut back or eradicate sugary meals and drinks to enhance their well being. Some consuming plans, such because the carnivore diet, take away practically all dietary sources of sugar and carbohydrates.

Nevertheless, a brand new examine in mice means that utterly eliminating sucrose, generally generally known as desk sugar, from a low-fat food regimen could have detrimental results on intestine and metabolic well being.

Researchers fed mice a sucrose-free, low-fat food regimen for 16 weeks and located they developed impaired glucose management and skilled vital adjustments of their gut microbiome in contrast with mice fed a low-fat food regimen containing sugar.

The researchers introduced their findings at ENDO 2026, the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society. These findings are but to endure peer evaluate.

Sugar may be discovered in lots of meals and could also be current naturally, equivalent to in fruits, or it might be added, equivalent to in soda or sweet.

Extra added sugar consumption has been linked to weight problems, type 2 diabetes, and heart problems, main many individuals who need to enhance their well being to strive low-sugar or sugar-free diets.

Within the new examine, researchers appeared into the results of a sugar-free, low-fat food regimen in mice.

The researchers divided 12 wholesome mice of comparable weight into two teams. The management group consumed a low-fat food regimen containing sugar, whereas the opposite ate a sugar-free, low-fat food regimen.

Each teams acquired related calorie quantities to rule out variations in meals quantities contributing to findings.

Over the examine interval, the researchers tracked a number of markers of metabolic well being, gut health, and irritation. They needed to see how the mice processed glucose and responded to insulin, and in addition how the composition of every group’s intestine micro organism modified over time.

On the finish of the examine, physique and liver weights remained related between the 2 teams.

Regardless of no variations in weight acquire or calorie consumption, mice on the sugar-free food regimen confirmed indicators of worsening metabolic well being.

This group of mice confirmed proof of impaired glucose tolerance and lowered insulin sensitivity, each of that are linked to an elevated danger of sort 2 diabetes.

The researchers additionally noticed vital adjustments in hormones concerned in metabolism and urge for food regulation, in addition to decrease fasting insulin ranges.

One notable discovering of the examine concerned adjustments within the intestine microbiome and irritation within the sugar-free mice. The researchers discovered decrease ranges of a number of useful micro organism that assist assist intestine well being and regulate irritation, together with Lactobacillus murinus.

Moreover, they famous a rise in micro organism linked to inflammatory situations which was accompanied by indicators of irritation within the colon.

One other regarding change the researchers seen within the sugar-free mouse group was that they developed indicators of fatty liver illness and liver irritation.

Whereas extra analysis is required to find out whether or not these findings apply to people, the outcomes recommend that eliminating sucrose from a low-fat food regimen could alter the intestine microbiome and have an effect on metabolic well being, highlighting the significance of general dietary stability.

Mir Ali, MD, bariatric surgeon, bariatric medication specialist, and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Heart, spoke with Medical Information As we speak in regards to the examine.

“I used to be shocked to see this consequence, as decreasing carbohydrate and sugar consumption is the mainstay of a variety of profitable weight reduction methods,” Ali, who was not concerned on this analysis, stated.

He famous that a big physique of research helps the well being advantages of decreasing added sugar consumption and cautioned in opposition to overinterpreting the findings.

“General, I feel the optimistic advantages outweigh the potential detrimental results,” Ali provided.

Ali talked about that additional research must give attention to people to see whether or not these outcomes carry over. He additionally mentioned the technique he suggests for his sufferers who’re making an attempt to drop pounds.

“What I like to recommend to my sufferers on a weight reduction journey is that they need to emphasize protein and greens within the food regimen and cut back carbohydrates and sugars,” Ali advised us. “There may be sufficient proof to assist that that is higher for burning fats and general metabolic well being.”

Nneoma Oparaji, MD, a Houston-based doctor specializing in life-style medication and weight problems medication, likewise not concerned on this analysis, shared her ideas on the examine with MNT.

“The examine is intriguing as a result of it challenges the oversimplified concept that eradicating sugar is routinely useful,” Oparaji stated.

She added the caveat that the examine shouldn’t be interpreted to imply that sugar is wholesome, however stated that “diet is extra complicated and nuanced than eradicating a single ingredient.”

Oparaji famous that adjustments within the intestine microbiome could also be one of many examine’s most vital findings as a result of intestine micro organism “regulate glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and irritation.”

“The most important takeaway is to not give attention to a single nutrient or single examine. Wholesome consuming is about general dietary patterns, not a single ingredient.”

– Nneoma Oparaji, MD