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Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington faculty member co-authors meta-analysis of data on red meat and diabetes

A meta-analysis published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that diets containing red meat did not impact glycemic and insulinemic risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The study suggests that more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between red meat consumption and the development of type 2 diabetes.

SourceIndiana University School of Public Health·JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateMay 11, 2022

Genes can affect our nutrient tolerance

A study found that small genetic variations impact an organism's ability to utilize energy from various nutrients. Researchers identified several genes contributing to sugar tolerance in fruit flies, which are also present in humans and linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 19, 2022

Research team from Goethe University discovers Achilles’ heel of dangerous hospital pathogen

A team from Goethe University has identified the spatial structure of the mannitol-synthesizing enzyme MtlD in Acinetobacter baumannii, which is crucial for its survival. This discovery could lead to the development of customized substances to inhibit the enzyme and combat this hospital pathogen.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2022

Artificial sweeteners may not be safe sugar alternatives

A study published in PLOS Medicine found associations between consuming artificial sweeteners and increased cancer risk. The researchers analyzed data from 102,865 French adults and discovered higher risks for overall cancer, breast cancer, and obesity-related cancers.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateMar 24, 2022

Can supermarkets coax people into buying healthier food?

Researchers found that increasing availability of healthier options, such as low-fat chips and lower-calorie biscuits, led to significant changes in purchasing behaviors. Removing seasonal chocolates from prominent locations also attenuated the usual increase in confectionery sales.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 24, 2022

Excess sugar consumption costs Canada’s health-care system $5 billion each year

A new study by University of Alberta researchers estimates that excessive sugar consumption in Canada results in $5 billion annual healthcare costs due to 16 chronic diseases. Limiting free sugar intake could reduce diabetes prevalence by 27% if Canadians follow the 10% recommendation, and 44.8% if they limit consumption to less than 5...

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalCanadian Journal of Public Health·DateMar 15, 2022

O-pH, a new UW dental tool prototype, can spot the acidic conditions that lead to cavities

Researchers created a dental tool that measures plaque acidity using an LED light and FDA-approved chemical dye, providing dentists with early warning signs of cavity development. The device can help limit the need for specific harmful bacteria tests and educate patients about sugar's impact on oral health.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 8, 2022

An insulin patch that sticks inside a person’s cheek

Researchers have developed a prototype insulin-loaded patch that comfortably sticks to the inside of a person's cheek, offering a less invasive way to manage blood sugar levels. The patch, activated by heat, releases insulin into the bloodstream several times faster than through skin, showing promise for diabetes treatment.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Applied Bio Materials·DateFeb 2, 2022

A sweet breakthrough: scientists develop recyclable plastics based on sugars

Researchers create two new polymers from sugar-based starting materials that retain common plastic qualities but are degradable and mechanically recyclable. The polymers' unique shapes and stereochemistry-dependent degradation rates offer a promising solution for sustainable plastics, with potential applications in various industries.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 17, 2022

Sugar could help repair artificial human joints

Researchers at Durham University have developed a sugar-containing polymer coating that can repair damaged artificial joint implants by mimicking the way cartilage works to lubricate human joints. The coating uses water to create a slippery surface, protecting the surfaces from wear and tear.

SourceDurham University·JournalChem·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 24, 2021

Deleting dysfunctional cells alleviates diabetes

Researchers at UConn Health have discovered that eliminating senescent cells in human fat tissue can alleviate signs of diabetes and improve insulin sensitivity. The study suggests that clearing away these dysfunctional cells could lead to game-changing new treatments for Type 2 diabetes.

SourceUniversity of Connecticut·JournalCell Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 22, 2021

Exploiting cancer’s sweet tooth

Researchers discovered that acute myeloid leukemia (AML) depends on a transporter to bring in inositol, a sugar required for cells to survive. By blocking this transporter, cancer cells would starve without inositol. This method leaves normal cells unharmed as they can produce their own inositol.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalCancer Discovery·DateOct 27, 2021

Artificial sweeteners disrupt bacterial communication and may influence gut microbiota, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev scientists find

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have discovered that artificial sweeteners can significantly impair bacterial communication. Three out of six tested FDA-approved sweeteners were found to inhibit quorum sensing, a key process for bacteria to communicate with each other.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 7, 2021

Fruit fly offers lessons in good taste

Researchers discovered that individual taste neurons in fruit flies can detect compounds from multiple taste categories, influencing feeding decisions. The team found that single-taste neurons are capable of responding to more than one tastant category, and that a single tastant category can activate multiple classes of taste neurons.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 27, 2021

Songbirds like it sweet!

Researchers found that songbirds can sense sweetness regardless of their primary diets, with the ability emerging early within the songbird radiation. The team identified the molecular basis of this ability and found that it has been conserved in nearly half of all birds living today.

SourceThe University of Hong Kong·JournalScience·DateJul 12, 2021

Slowing the sugar rush to yield better grapes

Researchers from the University of Adelaide have developed strategies to delay grape ripening and increase flavor potential in Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. By manipulating crop load and irrigation management, they were able to slow down sugar accumulation and improve aroma compounds, colour, and mouthfeel.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry·DateJun 30, 2021

Rare genetic defect replicated in fish model

Researchers at Heidelberg University successfully introduced a rare genetic mutation into a fish model to study the causes of complex metabolic diseases. The study found that supplying fully functional ALG2 mRNA could reverse the genetic defect, allowing analysis of individual function areas of the enzyme.

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalDevelopment·DateJun 23, 2021