Low testosterone levels have long been linked to various health problems. Now, researchers in Japan suggest that an excess of fructose in the daily diet could be particularly dangerous for men with this condition, potentially contributing to the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The findings highlight a growing concern about the interplay between diet, hormonal health, and liver function globally.
Study data indicates that as many as 40 percent of adult men worldwide are affected by this liver condition. Obesity, type 2 diabetes, low testosterone levels, and high fructose intake are among the key risk factors. However, until now, the way the body responds to the simultaneous impact of low testosterone and high fructose consumption remained unclear.
To investigate this interaction, scientists conducted an experiment on mice. Male mice had their testicles removed to induce a state of testosterone deficiency, and some of the animals were then fed a diet rich in fructose. The researchers also analyzed the impact of antibiotic therapy on the results.
Researchers then assessed liver cells and tissues, plasma, components present in the cecum, and samples of the gut microbiota. The results showed that castrated mice consuming fructose had larger livers, while those treated with antibiotics had smaller livers.
“By examining this mechanism, we found that changes in the gut microbiota lead to an increase in the level of pyruvate in the intestine. Experiments using primary hepatocytes derived from mice showed that pyruvate synergistically promotes the accumulation of neutral lipids in hepatocytes,” explained Hiroki Takahashi, one of the study’s authors.
The scientists emphasize that the discovery of this mechanism could be significant not only for a better understanding of the disease but also for the development of fresh prevention and treatment methods.
“In the future, we seek to elucidate the mechanism by which pyruvate promotes the accumulation of triglycerides, in order to pave the way for the development of drugs and prevention methods through dietary interventions,” added Professor Harada, the author of the study published in “American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism.”
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