Fructose disrupts gene networks linked to brain disorders; omega-3 reverses effect

A range of diseases -- from diabetes to cardiovascular disease, and from Alzheimer's disease to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder -- are linked to changes in genes in the brain. A new study by UCLA life scientists has found that hundreds of those genes can be damaged by fructose, a sugar that's common in the Western diet, in a way that could lead to those diseases.  However, researchers discovered the good news as well: An omega-3 fatty acid known as docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, seems to reverse the harmful changes produced by fructose.  

The findings were reported in the Apr. 13 issue of EBioMedicine. 

The research was supported by a voucher for core services to Xia Yang, senior author and an assistant professor of integrative biology and physiology. CTSI awarded the voucher in 2013.

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To read the rest of the news release, go to the UCLA newsroom.

To read the publication, go here. 

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