Articles tagged with Sugars
A four-million-year study modelled the glucose needs of humans and their ancestors, finding natural sugars supplied energy for growing brains before cooking made starch-rich foods easier to digest. The research suggests earliest hominins were highly reliant on carbohydrate-rich foods, particularly fruit.
A study of over 64,000 people found that those born before and during World War II sugar rationing had a lower risk of developing dementia. Those with lower sugar levels in early life also experienced a delay in dementia development, on average by 2.6 years.
Researchers propose using the glucose ketone index (GKI) to track metabolic health in non-communicable diseases, which cause three in four deaths worldwide. The GKI measures blood glucose and ketones and may indicate metabolic state, assess long-term nutritional adherence, and support mitochondrial function improvement.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages was linked to an increased risk of liver cancer. In contrast, artificially sweetened beverage intake showed no significant association with liver cancer risk.
A new analysis tracks global sugar-sweetened beverage tax adoption across 183 countries, revealing South Asia's significant lead in tax implementation. The study found that countries with higher burdens of type 2 diabetes and obesity are more likely to adopt taxes, but not necessarily those with high rates of sugary drink consumption.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that only 43% of menu items at the UK's highest-grossing restaurant chains met all voluntary targets for sugar, salt, and calorie reduction. This suggests that stricter regulation may be needed to improve the nutritional quality of out-of-home food.
A new report published in Nature Metabolism sheds light on fructose's distinct role in driving metabolic disease, separate from its caloric contribution. Fructose bypasses key regulatory steps, leading to increased fat synthesis and cellular energy depletion, which may contribute to metabolic syndrome.
A landmark trial is underway to test new treatments that restore the body's natural warning signs for low blood glucose in people with type 1 diabetes. The CLEAR trial compares innovative treatments, including an artificial pancreas system and bespoke psychoeducational programs, to find the most effective way to prevent severe episodes.
A new Cochrane review found that sucrose can effectively reduce pain in newborn babies during painful procedures like venepuncture. The study examined 29 clinical trials involving over 2,700 babies and showed that a small amount of sucrose given before the procedure significantly reduces pain when combined with non-nutritive sucking.
Researchers found that people's expectations about sugar content alter their enjoyment of beverages containing artificial sweeteners. By manipulating participants' expectations, the study shows how the brain's reward system responds to sweet flavors, with increased activation in the dopaminergic midbrain.
Research reveals that Sulf1 is essential for both reward-dependent and aversion learning, highlighting its critical role in adult brain function. The enzyme acts through distinct dopamine D1 and D2 receptor pathways, underscoring its importance in neural circuits involved in learning.
After initiating GLP-1 receptor agonists, consumers showed a decrease in ultraprocessed foods and an increase in protein, while purchasing fewer calories, sugars, and saturated fats. These modest changes may have significant population-level effects given increasing GLP-1RA use.
Tufts researchers have developed a method to biosynthetically produce tagatose, a rare sugar with potential health benefits. Tagatose is 92% as sweet as sucrose and has about 60% fewer calories, making it an attractive alternative to conventional sugar substitutes.
Researchers develop experimental drugs that encourage mitochondria in cells to work harder and burn more calories. The findings offer a framework for designing safe and effective weight-loss treatments with potential benefits for metabolic health and neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study published in The BMJ found that restricting sugar intake during early life is associated with lower risks of heart conditions in adulthood. People exposed to sugar rationing in utero and during their first two years had a 20% reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as slower onset of heart problems.
A new study reveals that both sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and low- or non-sugar-sweetened beverages (LNSSBs) are significantly associated with a higher risk of developing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Replacing either beverage with water significantly reduces MASLD risk.
Researchers found that measures of glycemic control were more closely linked to changes in food preferences than body weight status. Participants who had fasting glucose and HbA1C at the high end of normal were less likely to prefer flavors paired with nutrients, even if they had a healthy BMI.
Researchers discovered how glycosylation modulates IgG antibody architecture, enabling precision immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases. The study's findings highlight the power of integrating experimental and computational approaches to decode glycoprotein dynamics and optimize clinical performance.
A University of Cincinnati researcher is investigating how excess sugar impacts cardiovascular structure and function in people with diabetes. The study focuses on a protein called GLUT1, which becomes overactive in diabetes, leading to harmful changes at the cellular level.
A team of researchers developed a molecular probe that detects sugar consumption in microbes, revealing the role of microorganisms in breaking down ocean sugars. The study provides new insights into glycan cycling across ecosystems and sheds light on the global carbon cycle.
A study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that 19% of packaged foods and beverages sold in the US contain synthetic food dyes. Synthetic dyes are particularly prevalent in products marketed to children, with confectionery and sugar-sweetened beverages being the top categories.
US-market disposable e-cigarettes contain the artificial sweetener neotame, which is 35-65 times sweeter than aspartame. Neotame was ubiquitous in nicotine-free and nicotine-containing e-cigs.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have developed a glycopolymer-functionalized gold nanoparticle test to detect Western Diamondback Rattlesnake venom. The assay uses synthetic sugars that mimic natural receptors targeted by venom proteins, offering a potential game-changer for snake envenomation diagnosis.
Researchers from Scripps Research and Georgia Institute of Technology have found that the formose reaction can only produce branched sugars, contradicting the widely-held hypothesis. This discovery may help scientists understand how life arose on Earth and lead to better biofuel production.
Researchers have discovered how a mitochondrial pyruvate carrier transports a molecule vital for energy production into the cell's powerhouses. Blocking this process could lead to new treatments for various conditions, including diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and cancer.
A new study found that smartwatches paired with a health app can encourage people with newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes to maintain a home-delivered, personalised exercise programme. This programme showed improvements in blood sugar levels, systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, and quality of life.
A new study found that smartwatches paired with a health app can encourage people with newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes to start and maintain purposeful exercise, leading to improvements in blood sugar levels and systolic blood pressure. The programme also helped participants lower cholesterol and improve their quality of life.
A study found that consuming sucralose alters brain activity related to hunger and increases appetite, especially in people with obesity. The sugar substitute changes how the hypothalamus communicates with other brain regions, including those involved in motivation, potentially leading to cravings and eating behavior changes.
Chronic kidney disease rates increased by 24% globally from 1990 to 2021, linked to higher cardiovascular disease risk. Collaborative care and screening for cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome can reduce mortality and improve patient lives.
Researchers have made progress in understanding how Streptococcus pneumoniae constructs its capsule, a critical target for vaccine development. The study identified three categories of transporters that facilitate sugar building block transport, with relaxed specificity transporters posing potential risks to bacterial growth.
Research suggests that flowering plants' tendency to reward pollinators with nectar is heritable and influenced by flower size and sugar content. Bees prefer honest flower genotypes, benefiting the plant through increased seed production.
Following the introduction of warning labels in 2020, Mexico substantially reformed food and non-alcoholic drink products to be healthier. The reformulation resulted in a significant reduction of excessive calories, fats, salts, sugars, sweeteners, and caffeine content in these products.
A new study published in Liver International found that a mother's high-fat diet during pregnancy can lead to liver stress and changes in the fetus's bile acid levels. This may be a key factor in the development of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) later in life.
A new study published in Microorganisms explores the impact of starch on oral health and finds that high AMY1 copy numbers alter the oral microbiome, increasing disease risk. The researchers discovered that populations with a history of agriculture and starch consumption have more copies of the gene, which provides a survival advantage.
Researchers found that added sugars contribute between 7% and 21% to the risk of gastric cancer, while sodium intake is the main mediating factor. Healthy diets characterized by high vegetable and fruit consumption can reduce this risk.
Aging mice show significant changes in glycocalyx, the sugary armor on cells that form the blood-brain barrier. Restoring glycals improves cognitive function and reduces neuroinflammation. The study offers new avenues for treating brain aging and related diseases.
A two-month intervention targeting ultra-processed foods resulted in a significant reduction of UPF intake, with participants consuming almost half the amount initially. Participants also experienced weight loss, improved mood, and reduced sugar, saturated fat, and sodium consumption.
A new study found that artificial sweetener aspartame triggers insulin spikes leading to blood vessel inflammation in mice, which can contribute to atherosclerosis and increased risk of heart attacks and stroke. The researchers identified an immune signal called CX3CL1 that plays a key role in this process.
The American Heart Association has chosen five US regions to implement a new preventive health initiative aimed at improving care for people with cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome. The initiative will increase awareness and screening for CKM syndrome and facilitate collaboration among healthcare professionals.
Researchers have discovered that anemonefish have evolved to maintain very low levels of sialic acid in their skin mucus to avoid triggering the release of nematocysts in their sea anemone hosts. This adaptation allows them to safely coexist with sea anemones, which also lack these sugar compounds in their own mucus.
A study by University of Gothenburg researchers found that consuming sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts improved blood sugar levels in people with prediabetes. The compound had a significant effect on fasting blood sugar levels, particularly in those with certain pathophysiological and microbiome characteristics.
A group of nerve cells called POMC neurons are responsible for dessert cravings, releasing a feel-good opiate when mice eat sugar. This pathway is activated even before eating, and blocking it reduces sugar consumption in full animals.
The American Heart Association and NFL Alumni Association collaborate to promote healthy lifestyles through Life's Essential 8, which includes four indicators of cardiovascular health and four behavioral/lifestyle factors. By following these steps, adults can lower their risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions.
Researchers develop new method to study glycosylation in proteins, discovering that gut bacteria can alter molecular signatures in the brain. The study found over 150,000 glycosylated protein forms in brain tissue samples from mice.
Researchers at U of T have developed a new platform called smol-seq that uses DNA sequencing to detect metabolites. This method enables the analysis of hundreds of metabolites simultaneously, making it faster and more precise than current methods.
A comprehensive study reveals that Akkermansia muciniphila breaks down sugars locked in mucus using a set of enzymes. The findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms behind this process and its potential applications in understanding disease and improving gut health.
Researchers found that new habits can begin forming within about two months, but can take up to 335 days to establish. The study also identified factors that influence successful habit formation, including frequency, timing, and enjoyment.
Researchers discover immune cells regulate blood sugar levels by stimulating glucagon production in the pancreas. This complex neuroimmune-hormonal circuit reveals a new way the body maintains stable glucose levels, especially during periods of low energy.
A study found that intestinal bacterium Bacteroides vulgatus and its metabolite pantothenic acid regulate sugar preference by activating the GLP-1-FGF21 hormone axis, providing a promising strategy for diabetes prevention.
Kyushu University researchers create a microwave flow reaction device that converts complex polysaccharides into simple monosaccharides, producing glucose. The device utilizes a continuous-flow hydrolysis process, where cellobiose is passed through a sulfonated carbon catalyst heated using microwaves.
A large study found that patients with diabetes taking GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs had lower rates of hospital readmission, wound re-opening, and hematoma after surgery. Improved blood sugar control was not the likely mediator, suggesting other mechanisms may be at play.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that individuals with and without obesity prefer high-calorie foods, regardless of their taste or texture. The researchers used a large group of healthy volunteers to compare food preferences among three groups: individuals with obesity, post-bariatric surgery patients, and non-obese controls.
A new study finds that a blood test using phosphatidylethanol (PEth) can detect liver disease caused by excessive drinking, offering a more reliable alternative to self-reported measures. The test has shown strong correlation with Fibrosis 4, an indicator of liver risk, and could be included in routine blood tests.
A large-scale Swedish study found that drinking sweetened beverages significantly increases cardiovascular disease risk, while limited consumption of treats doesn't. The study suggests considering the source and context of sugar intake for better cardiovascular health outcomes.
A Baycrest study has found that high blood sugar may impair brain health even in people without diabetes. Researchers analyzed data from 146 healthy adults and found a correlation between high blood sugar levels and lower brain activity.
A study found that monochromatic infrared light combined with physical therapy significantly reduced pain and improved sleep quality in patients with peripheral diabetic neuropathy. The treatment was effective in reducing symptoms and improving functionality for patients with intense pain.
Metformin, a widely prescribed diabetes drug, may increase risks of obesity and diabetes in newborns when given to pregnant women. The study found that the drug accumulated in the fetal kidneys, liver, and other organs, leading to growth restriction, which has been linked to an elevated risk of obesity and insulin resistance in childhood.
A new study finds that restricting sugar consumption in utero and early childhood significantly reduces the risk of midlife chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Low sugar intake by mothers before birth and continued restriction after birth increased health benefits.
A new study reveals that Oriental hornets are the only animals capable of consuming high concentrations of alcohol chronically without ill effects. The research found that the hornets metabolize alcohol rapidly and show no signs of intoxication or illness, even after consuming high amounts.
Researchers found specific gene mutations in barley affect starch synthesis, forming elongated starch granules with altered properties. Mutations disrupt enzymes, altering glucose chain formation and branching.