The obesity issue is a constant source of concern in the world today. Diets high in fat, salt, and sugar are taking their toll on children and adults, leading to record numbers of overweight people. Now, adding the already long list of health problems, doctors have found that fatty diets with levels of fructose similar to what is present in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) can contribute to fatty liver disease and scarring in animal models. The study also helped to develop a non-invasive blood test that can monitor the progress of the disease. The current method to track fatty liver disease is through biopsies, which are invasive procedures.

To arrive at their findings, published in the journal Hepatology, researchers placed mice on two different diets. One was a standard rodent diet, while the other group received a high fructose enriched drinking water and trans-fat solids, modeled after what would be considered a high junk food diet in humans.

Liver tissue was then examined for fat content and tissue scarring, or fibrosis. The biological mechanism for tissue damage was accomplished by measuring such processes as reactive oxygen stress, inflammation, and the measurement of oxidative stress markers, which are known to be a factor in obesity related liver disease.

What the researchers found was that when mice consumed a normal diet, they maintained healthy levels of body fat and did not display any signs of fatty liver disease. When they were kept on a diets high in trans fats alone or in conjunction with high fructose, they became obese and had fatty liver disease.

However, it was the only the mice who consumed both the trans fats and the high levels of fructose that progressed to advanced fatty liver disease which included fibrosis. These animals also experienced increased oxidative stress in their liver, as well as greater inflammation and more oxidative stress markers.

The authors of the study hope that the data will lead to a better understanding of the exact mechanism by which high fructose diets may cause liver disease. This will hopefully result in more effective therapeutic interventions to alleviate illness, possibly through antioxidant supplementation. Antioxidants are believed to protect against oxidative stress and may possibly help slow the process of advanced liver damage.

The findings are particularly relevant in light of the increasing prevalence of fats and HFCS in our diets. It has been estimated that fructose accounts for nearly 10.2% of the daily caloric intake of most Americans. This, in turn, has been linked to such health problems as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and liver disease.

Fatty liver disease results in the accumulation of fat in the liver. It is fairly common and in most people is asymptomatic, but when it accumulates to high enough levels, it can cause inflammation and scarring. This, in turn, can compromise the functioning of the liver and can lead to liver failure.

If you have questions or concerns about fatty liver disease, talk to you doctor. For more information, visit the website for the American College of Gasteroenterology.

This post was included in The Homesteading Carnival #154.