Study: Love for sweets can disrupt brain function

September 10, 2019  14:11

Sweet for normal brain function is not only not necessary, but also dangerous: scientists from the University of Michigan conducted an experiment with fruit flies and found that with an abundance of sugar in the diet, there is a shortage of key compounds related to brain health, Xinhua reported.

According to the source, due to the consumption of sugar, the metabolic profile of insect organisms quickly changed during the transition from a state of hunger to satiety. And the biggest changes were noted precisely in the brain.

A high-sugar diet reduced N-acetyl aspartate (NAA) and kynurenine levels - these are metabolites that can affect how fast you feel full. If the indicators go beyond the norm, the insect begins to eat more. NAA, according to experts, provides fuel for neurons and regulates the volume of cells in the brain. A decrease in Kynurenine concentration may be associated with depression.

By the seventh day on a high sugar diet, the metabolic profile of the tested insects was completely changed. In total, sugar metabolism affected 20 metabolites, in addition to NAA and kinurinine.

Now, scientists have to figure out how these changes, apparently occurring in people, are reflected in sleep, learning, and memory.

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