Anyone seen Christopher Mearn's interview claiming fructose causes mitochondrial dysfunction due to high uric acid?
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Christopher Mearns, of TheFructoseModel, makes some wild claims.
Can someone knowledgeable in the Ray Peat community address them?
I had AI summarize the mechanism he describes:
*Fructose is metabolized by an enzyme called fructokinase (specifically the KHKC isoform). This enzyme phosphorylates fructose into fructose-1-phosphate, which then consumes ATP.
The depletion of ATP caused by this fructose metabolism pathway eventually leads to the generation of uric acid as a byproduct.
The elevated uric acid levels then cause oxidative stress and impair mitochondrial function in the cells.
This mitochondrial dysfunction and reduced energy production (lower ATP levels) in the cells leads to insulin resistance, as the cells are unable to properly utilize the glucose/fuel provided.
The author suggests that this fructose-driven process of depleting cellular energy and increasing oxidative stress is the root cause underlying the development of insulin resistance and various metabolic disorders, rather than just excess calorie intake or glucose alone.*
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If someone's having sugar issues why not just keto? Why the acrobatics. I'm considering a long experimental run for the visceral reactions to georgi's recent blog, the brain energy book guy being a keto guy and knowing people who do it without issue. There's got to be something going on there.
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I haven't listen to the video. No need with your explanation.
Question to ChatGPT (In summary)
Is consuming 50 g fructose from whole food (thus mainly with fiber for 3/4), concomitantly with 50g glucose, fractioned into 3 meals and one snack – no corn syrup added – going to set a problem with uric acid if your kidneys function normally. No overload?Fructose and Uric Acid Production:
Fructose metabolism does indeed lead to the generation of uric acid, primarily through its conversion to fructose-1-phosphate by the enzyme fructokinase. This process consumes ATP, and the depletion of ATP can increase the purine degradation pathway, producing uric acid as a byproduct. In excessive amounts, this can potentially lead to high uric acid levels, which can be problematic, especially in conditions like gout or kidney stone formation.Fractionation of Meals
Dividing your intake into 3 meals and 1 snack will likely reduce any immediate metabolic spikes in blood sugar and uric acid production compared to consuming all 100g of sugar at once. This makes the load on the liver (and kidneys) less intense at any given time. However, the total daily load still matters, and the 50g of fructose consumed across these meals might still lead to some degree of ATP depletion if you’re regularly consuming fructose in this range.LucH asked
I suppose that if you eat some dairies with fruits (calcium and fructose), it won't set a problem.
ChatGPT answered:
Yes, consuming dairies with fruits, especially with calcium-rich foods like yogurt or cheese, might help mitigate. Calcium binds to oxalates and could potentially reduce the uric acid burden. The mechanism isn’t fully understood (…).
Note’s editor: Eating one slice of cheese like Gouda could do the job, as well as cottage cheese or Greek yaourt but moderate then the protein amount.Fibrous Fruits, Dairy, and Fructose
In summary, consuming dairy products with fruit is unlikely to cause problems with uric acid levels and could actually help reduce some of the potential issues, thanks to the buffering effects of calcium and protein from dairy. It’s a well-balanced combination, especially if you’re not consuming large amounts of fructose or dairy, and if you have no preexisting conditions like gout or kidney problems. Keep the total intake in check, and your body should be able to handle it without issue.
