Eating a healthy, low-fat diet has more benefits than shedding pounds and going down a few pant sizes. Now scientists have found that eating less fat can also help protect against infectious diseases such as Covid-19.
Researchers at the University of California – Riverside found “alarming” changes in gene expression – how your genes are physically expressed – in subjects who ate a high-fat diet.
The results of the study showed that a high-fat diet increases gene expression of proteins in the body that are used by Covid-19 spit proteins to invade and infect a host.
Lead author Frances Sladek, a professor of cell biology at UCR, said, “A plant-based diet is rumored to be better for you, and in many cases it’s true.” But a diet high in fat, even from plant sources, is one case where this just isn’t true.”
Researchers said their study shows that high-fat diets not only affect genes linked to obesity, colon cancer and irritable bowel syndrome, but that the diet also affects genes linked to the immune system, brain function and Covid risk. 19.
Compared to mice on a low-fat diet, mice on a high-fat diet showed “alarming” changes in their genes
In the study published in Scientific Reports, researchers fed three groups of mice one of three diets in which at least 40 percent of calories came from fat: one based on saturated fat from coconut oil; one is based on monounsaturated fat from a genetically modified soybean oil; and one based on polyunsaturated fats from conventional soybean oil.
The calorie and fat composition of the mouse diet is very similar to what experts say makes up a typical American diet. Although some fat is necessary, a diet should contain no more than 10 to 15 percent fat.
The measurements of the mice were then compared to those of a control group that ate a low-fat diet.
During the 24-week study period, all three groups of mice were found to experience “significant changes in gene expression” compared to a low-fat diet.
The researchers analyzed genes in four parts of the mice’s digestive system and found “dysregulation” of genes in various tissues in the animals that received each of the high-fat diets.
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The changed genes were involved in how the body metabolizes drugs, genes linked to irritable bowel disease and colon cancer, as well as genes that affect the bacterial composition of the gut and regulate susceptibility to infectious diseases such as Covid-19.
The results showed that all three high-fat diets increased gene expression of proteins used by Covid-19 proteins to enter and infect the body, making it more susceptible to infection.
Genes linked to the immune system became weaker and functioned more slowly in mice fed a high-fat diet than in the control group of mice fed a low-fat diet.
Of the three types of diet, the coconut-based diet showed the most changes, followed by the conventional soybean oil diet.
The authors said the differences observed between the two soybean oils suggest that polyunsaturated fats play a role in the way genes are expressed.
In addition, the bacterial composition of the gut – the microbiome – was most altered in mice fed soybean oil.
The researchers expressed concern about the results because soybean oil is the most consumed oil in the United States.
Co-author Sladek said: “We saw that pattern recognition genes, genes that recognize infectious bacteria, took a hit.”
“We saw that cytokine signaling genes took a hit, enabling the body to control inflammation.”
“So it’s a double whammy. These diets damage immune system genes in the host and also create an environment in which harmful gut bacteria can thrive.”
The team also found that the high-fat diet increased signs of stem cells in the colon, which can be a precursor to colon cancer.
Microbiologist Poonamjot Deol, co-first author of the study, reassured people that eating a fatty meal one night won’t do any harm, but years of unhealthy eating habits will have harmful effects.
He added: “Some people think, ‘Oh, I’ll just exercise more and everything will be fine’, but eating this way regularly can affect your immune system and the way your brain works.”
“You may not be able to eliminate these effects easily.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
