Creamy riot
In order to study the effects of various types of food and drink on the human body, the authors of a recent study published in Diabetes Care gave a drink of either glucose (sugar), cream (saturated fat), fresh orange juice or only water to volunteers. When their blood was analysed, it turned out that while orange juice and water had no effects, the sugary drink and cream raised blood levels of inflammatory substances. However, only cream also induced further changes in blood resembling the condition of atherosclerosis and also diabetes (insulin resistance).
Deopurkar et al., 2010. Differential Effects of Cream, Glucose, and Orange Juice on Inflammation, Endotoxin, and the Expression of Toll-Like Receptor-4 and Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling-3. Diabetes Care. 33 (5) 991-7.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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