The University of Texas-Dallas conducted a study that showed consuming fattening foods could lead to pain in people. Experts believe pain and nerve damage in people with obesity or diabetes is due to their poor metabolic state. However, this new study challenges this claim. The researchers believe eating a high-fat diet could cause pain even if you are healthy; thus, such food should be avoided.
A high-fat diet is common in the U.S
According to Michael Burton, M.D., an assistant neuroscience professor at the University of Texas School of Behavioral and Brain Science and co-author of the study, the study proves that a disease isn’t required to trigger pain. He explains that briefly consuming a high-fat diet is all it takes. Dr. Burton adds that this diet is common in the U.S.
The U.S. is known for its fried foods that are high in fat. These foods have been responsible for many metabolic diseases, including diabetes and obesity. High-fat diets can also worsen pre-existing conditions and prevent the healing of a present injury.
How researchers conducted the study
The researchers used mice for their study. They split the mice into two groups and gave them different diets. The team kept the first group on a normal diet while providing the other with a high-fat diet that wouldn’t induce obesity or diabetes. Furthermore, they compared obese and diabetic mice with them. They observed the mice for eight weeks.
The team checked for saturated fats in the mice fed high-fat diets. They found palmitic acid and saturated fat in their blood. The researchers realized that the palmitic acid would bind to nerve cell receptors and cause inflammation, maximizing cell damage
Researchers concluded that if they could prevent palmitic acid from binding to the nerve cells, they could avoid pain. Dr. Burton suggested that it was possible to prevent this binding; hence researchers should find pharmacological techniques.
Dr. Byron also adds that healthcare workers should tell their patients about the dangers of a high-fat diet. He states that this is essential not only for patients with obesity and diabetes or at risk for these diseases but also for those who are relatively healthy. He also urges doctors to look into reasons a patient could be experiencing unexplained pain rather than immediately treating the pain.
