Research Description
High-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), abundant in soda and processed foods, causes poor management of blood sugar and lipid levels in the liver, leading to detrimental diseases like diabetes and fatty liver. In contrast, dietary fibers, abundant in vegetables and grains, have been shown to be health-beneficial. The research goal of this proposal is to expand our understanding of how dietary fibers exert such beneficial effects, which can lead to the development of new drugs. In particular, a specific type of dietary fiber called inulin will be studied because of its unique chemical structure as a long chain of fructose, the same molecule present in HFCS. Inulin improves diabetes and fatty liver symptoms when provided with HFCS to mice. The major idea to examine in this proposal is whether inulin-adapted gut bacteria eat up not only inulin but also HFCS (because both are composed of fructose) and thereby protect host organs from toxic fructose. Thus, using cutting-edge analytical chemistry techniques, inulin-adapted gut bacteria will be identified and tested for its protective effects against diabetes. Moreover, the health-beneficial effects of three dietary fibers that are a long chain of non-fructose carbohydrates will be compared with inulin. This work, supported by the ADA fellowship, will determine if inulin and its adapted bacteria can be new strategies for treating diabetes caused by unhealthy dietary habits like HFCS.Research Profile
What area of diabetes research does your project cover? What role will this particular project play in preventing, treating and/or curing diabetes?This project investigates the role of dietary fibers in dealing with the harmful effects of high fructose corn syrup, commonly found in sodas and processed food. This is known to cause poor management of blood sugar and lipid levels in the liver, leading to detrimental diseases like diabetes and fatty liver. This project is particularly interested in how these dietary fibers interact with the gut bacteria and how this can influence sugar levels in blood. By understanding how dietary fibers work, we will be able to advise taking enough dietary fiber to prevent diabetes, especially for people who eat a lot of sweet foods. This research will lead to new dietary habits and gut bacteria that could help open new doors and ideas for future treatments.
If a person with diabetes were to ask you how your project will help them in the future, how would you respond?This research aims to find out how dietary fibers can help manage blood sugar levels, especially if you eat foods with a lot of added sugars. In addition, we are looking into the role of select gut bacteria species and different types of fiber in managing diabetes. In the future, we will be able to discover new ways involving specific dietary fibers or bacteria to help keep blood sugar levels more stable.
Why important for you, personally, to become involved in diabetes research? What role will this award play?Diabetes is a leading metabolic disorder, which leads to serious complications across the organs. One of the primary risk factors is poor dietary habits. This highlights the crucial connection between diet and diabetes control or prevention. My research focuses on exploring diet to treat and prevent diabetes. My goal is to develop this into a basic and easy-to-access treatment, aiming to substantially impact public health. This award provides essential funding for my research. It also opens the opportunities for collaboration by connecting with other researchers and institutions. Moreover, the recognition from this award will help in spreading my research findings more widely, influencing public health and emphasizing the importance of dietary habits in managing diabetes.
In what direction do you see the future of diabetes research going?The future of diabetes research focuses on developing new drugs and achieving personalized medicine. To develop a treatment that is highly effective and has fewer side effects, more collaborative efforts across various fields will be involved. With advanced monitoring and artificial intelligence, treatment will be specific based on people's lifestyles and unique gut bacteria. Recognizing that diabetes is a worldwide issue, there is a growing emphasis on implementing effective treatments and prevention strategies in diverse cultural and economic environments, particularly in lower incomes.