Diabetes risk Even a high-fat meal has a negative impact on the metabolism

Negative metabolic changes even by a high-fat food
More and more Germans are suffering from diabetes. In this country almost seven million people now live with the so-called diabetes. Scientific research has now shown that even a high-fat meal can cause negative metabolic changes, which in turn promote the development of type 2 diabetes.

Problems with glucose metabolism
Currently, about 6.7 million people in Germany suffer from diabetes, of which over 95 percent of type 2 diabetes, and rising. Clinics also show that the number of diabetic patients continues to rise. According to a report from the German Diabetes Association, half of all hospital-treated patients have problems with their glucose metabolism, be it because they already have diabetes or a precursor.

One study suggests that even a high-fat meal can cause negative metabolic changes, which in turn promote the development of type 2 diabetes. (Image: Alexander Raths / fotolia.com)

Even a high-fat meal can cause negative metabolic changes
As the company reports, the German Center for Diabetes Research e.V. (DZD) is presenting new insights into the development and early detection of diabetes mellitus at the Diabetes Congress in Hamburg.

For example, the German Diabetes Center in Düsseldorf and the Helmholtz Zentrum München demonstrated in a high-fat diet study conducted in mice and humans that even a high-fat meal can cause negative metabolic changes, which in turn promote the development of type 2 diabetes.

"The Düsseldorf researchers examined the effect of a high-fat diet in humans. At Helmholtz Zentrum München, the examinations were carried out in parallel in the mouse model, "explained Professor Dr. med. Dr. h.c. Martin Hrabe de Angelis, Director of the DZD and Director of the Institute for Experimental Genetics at Helmholtz Zentrum München.

Energy balance of the liver changed
The human study participants - healthy slim men - were randomly given a flavored palm oil drink and another time a glass of clear water as a control experiment.

The palm oil drink contained a similar amount of saturated fat as two cheeseburgers with bacon and a large portion of French fries or two salami pizzas. The mice also received palm oil.

"Both humans and mice showed that this single high-fat meal was enough to reduce the insulin action, that is, to induce insulin resistance and to increase the fat content of the liver," said Professor Hrabe de Angelis.

"In addition, the energy budget of the liver changed. These metabolic changes are similar to those seen in people with type 2 diabetes or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). "

In addition, mouse models have shown that palm oil administration alters the expression of genes that regulate inflammatory and protective metabolic pathways.

The results of the study were published in the journal "Journal of Clinical Investigation". (Ad)