High-Fat Diet Triggers Cellular Dysfunction, But Antioxidants May Reverse Effects: MIT Study

A new MIT study reveals that a high-fat diet disrupts hundreds of metabolic enzymes, leading to weight gain, insulin resistance, and increased oxidative stress—particularly in male mice. These enzymes, crucial to sugar, fat, and protein metabolism, undergo phosphorylation, which alters their function and causes metabolic imbalance. Notably, male mice were more affected than females, who compensated better through fat-processing pathways.

However, researchers found that co-administering an antioxidant (BHA, butylated hydroxyanisole) significantly reversed many harmful effects: weight gain reduced, insulin sensitivity improved, and enzyme activity normalized. This suggests antioxidant therapy could restore cellular balance and reduce metabolic dysfunction, even without switching diets.

The study underscores phosphorylation's vital role in metabolic regulation and raises hope for antioxidant-based interventions to prevent or treat obesity-linked disorders. Future work will explore timing and potential clinical applications.

03-06-2025