The research team, led by Ina Bergheim from the University of Vienna, showed that consuming fructose , even for a short period, enhances the immune response of blood cells to bacterial toxins, making them more active in releasing inflammatory molecules such as interleukin-6, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor α .
Two randomized studies were conducted with healthy volunteers, in which participants consumed beverages containing either fructose or glucose . Scientists then examined isolated immune blood cells and performed experiments on cell cultures. The results showed that fructose increased the concentration of the transient-like receptor 2 (TLR2) , an important sensor for bacterial molecules, making the cells more sensitive to inflammatory signals, while this did not occur with glucose.
Researcher Bergheim points out that even short-term fructose consumption can alter the functioning of the immune system and promote inflammation, increasing the risk of infection and having a greater impact on people with metabolic disorders.
The research also shows that some components of the diet can directly affect the sensitivity of immune blood cells, adding that fructose has long been linked to an increased risk of metabolic diseases and its effects may now extend to the immune system.
The research findings were published in the journal Redox Biology.
