A Western diet rich in sugar and fat causes damage to Paneth cells – immune cells in the gut that help keep inflammation in check, a study shows. Paneth cells are a type of anti-inflammatory immune cell found in the intestines that helps to protect against microbial imbalances and infectious pathogens. They found that high body mass index (BMI) was associated with Paneth cells that looked abnormal and unhealthy under a microscope. After eight weeks, the mice that ate the western diet had more abnormal Paneth cells than the group that ate a standard diet. Liu and colleagues now are investigating whether fat or sugar plays the primary role in impairing Paneth cells.

Source: Daily Mail May 18, 2021 15:00 UTC