Fatty foods trigger inflammation leading to diabetes

New York: An enhanced inflammatory response could be the key link between high saturated fat intake and the development of diseases like Type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis, researchers have said.

"Obesity and an unhealthy diet can increase the risk of atherosclerosis, Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease but not in everyone," said lead author C Lawrence Kien from University of Vermont (UVM).

Inflammation, which involves the release of chemicals called cytokines from cells, is a normal part of the immune system's defence against infection.

Kien had a hunch that the pro-inflammatory effect of saturated fat might be facilitating how saturated fat impacts the risk of metabolic disease.

In their latest study, Kien and colleagues studied palmitic acid -- the most prevalent saturated fat in the diet. They found that a high palmitic acid diet increased the concentration of several inflammatory biomarkers in both blood and muscle.