A new study from the University of California, Irvine may finally reveal how fiber protects your body from the damage caused by sugar, and how protecting yourself starts in your gut.
Researchers at the UCI School of Medicine have discovered that inulin, a natural fiber found in vegetables such as onions, garlic and artichokes, can change the shape of bacteria living in the body. your intestines Stop fructose before it reaches the liver.
“We found that consuming a type of dietary fiber called inulin changes the bacteria in the intestines to promote uptake of harmful dietary fructose,” said Dr. Cheol-Soon Jang, principal investigator at UCI’s Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Disease.
The findings, published in Nature Metabolism, reveal a new level of protection. provided by fiber, It’s not just about digestion, it’s about how your body processes sugar at a molecular level.
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Chan and his team found that when people eat fructose, a common sugar found in fruits and sweet foods, gut bacteria in the small intestine can metabolize the fructose before it reaches the liver. But without enough fiber, fructose “spills over” in excess, taxing the liver and causing fat accumulation.
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by feeding intestinal bacteria With inulin, researchers found that microbes essentially burn the fructose early, preventing its damage chain.
Even more amazingly, when these bacteria were “stimulated” by inulin, they were able to reverse the signs of fatty liver disease, reduce fat accumulation, and increase the liver’s natural antioxidants.
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Zhang says this study proves that not all calories are created equal.
He says their research provides “insight into how fiber protects our health from harmful nutrients like fructose.”
The study focused on non-obese participants, people who may be less obvious but still face hidden risks from high-sugar diets.
Zhang pointed out that metabolic damage is not limited to overweight people. Even seemingly healthy people can experience liver stress and insulin resistance if their gut microbes are not equipped to handle excess fructose.
“By identifying specific gut bacteria and the metabolic pathways involved, our findings can guide personalized nutritional strategies,” Zhang said.
He added that future studies will investigate whether other common fibers other than inulin cause similar protective effects.
Its impact extends far beyond the laboratory. If certain fibers can train gut microbes to neutralize sugar before it can harm the liver, it could open the door to new treatments for fatty liver disease. diabetes, Even obesity and cancer.
So far, researchers say their findings show that fiber not only aids in digestion, but can also play a role in protecting metabolic health.
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Mr. Jean says: “For example, by checking how well someone’s gut bacteria removes fructose before it is absorbed into the body, we can choose the right prebiotic or probiotic supplement for that person, improving results and reducing side effects.”
