APC
Microbiome Ireland scientists based at UCC found that feeding mice with a
"westernised" diet, which is high in fat and low in fermentable
fibre, affected both the immune system and the bacteria resident in the gut.
This
kind of diet leaves people more prone to illness from listeria, a type of bug
that can cause food poisoning when eaten.
It
can live and grow in a wide range of foods, in particular chilled ready-to-eat
foods such as packaged sandwiches, butter, cooked sliced meats, smoked salmon,
certain soft cheeses and pate.
A
high-fat "western" diet weakens the ability of the immune system to
fight infectious disease particularly in the gut, leaving people more at risk
of food poisoning, according to researchers at University College Cork (UCC).
Even
short-term consumption of the high-fat diet was found to increase the number of
goblet cells in the gut, which are the target for infection by listeria, as
well as causing profound changes to the microbiota composition and immune
system.
The
high-fat diet also raised susceptibility to infections beyond the gut.
The
researchers said the increased human consumption of a 'westernised' diet has
been linked to the dramatic rise in conditions such as obesity and type 2
diabetes.
Research
has shown the direct effects of dietary fats upon both the immune system and
the gut microbiota.
"Short-term
consumption of the high-fat diet increased levels of firmicutes bacteria in the
gut which are associated with obesity," said PhD student Vanessa Las
Heras.
Listeria
can cause serious disease, particularly in pregnant women, the elderly and
people whose immune systems are weakened.
The
effects of diet were also seen beyond the gut, she pointed out.
"This
has important implications for human health, especially during pregnancy, in
old age and in immunocompromised individuals," said Dr Cormac Gahan,
leader of the research study.
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