Intestinal Fructose Processing May Boost Fat Absorption and Obesity, Mouse Study Finds
UC Irvine researchers found that blocking the small intestine’s fructose-processing enzyme (KHK-C) in mice fed high-fructose corn syrup reduced weight gain and fat mass, altered the gut microbiome, and shortened lacteals to lower fat absorption; fecal transplants from these mice caused similar fat-absorption effects, suggesting intestinal fructose metabolism helps drive fat uptake and obesity, though human studies are needed.
