Acute inflammation refers to the body's response to injury. Characterized by redness, swelling and heat, this form of inflammation subsides once the injury heals. Another form of inflammation -- chronic inflammation -- does not subside, however. It persists for months or years and damages vital organs such as the heart and the pancreas. Research points to an association between glucose and chronic inflammation, particularly in obese individuals.
Cytokines
Cytokines are proteins that the body releases in response to inflammation. In chronic inflammation, the body continually releases these proteins, especially in obese individuals, as fat cells also secrete inflammatory chemicals. Over time, the constant inflammation breaks down healthy tissue. Examples of cytokines most often involved in chronic inflammation include tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 and interleukin-6, and the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein, which often predicts cardiovascular disease.
Hyperglycemia
In hyperglycemia, too much glucose circulates in the blood, and high levels of glucose trigger the inflammatory chemicals. In 2002, researchers from the Second University of Naples in Italy administered glucose to 35 subjects -- 20 with normal and 15 with impaired glucose tolerance. Glucose raised the levels of the inflammatory proteins tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in both groups. The researchers also noted that in the group with impaired glucose tolerance, glucose raised the levels of cytokines higher than the control group and maintained them at a higher level for a longer period of time. The results of this study appeared in the October issue of "Circulation."
High Glycemic Load
High glycemic load foods raise the level of glucose in the blood very quickly; these foods demand excessive amounts of insulin, the hormone secreted by the pancreas to regulate digestion. Over time, this action can wear out the pancreas. According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, foods that deliver a high glycemic load also boost the level of C-reactive protein in the blood. Therefore high glycemic load foods trigger the inflammatory chemicals.
Refined Starches
Refined carbohydrates such as white bread, white rice, pasta, breakfast cereals, bagels and commercial baked goods such as donuts, cookies and muffins tend to be highly processed. This means that they have retained next to no fiber, lack most vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals and essential fatty acids, and tend to have high glycemic loads. According to researchers from the University of Naples in Italy and the Warwick Medical School in England, refined starches not only boost levels of cytokines in the blood, they also trigger an increase in free radicals, the reactive oxygen molecules underlying oxidative stress.
References
- "Circulation"; Inflammatory Cytokine Concentrations are Acutely Increased by Hyperglycemia in Humans: Role of Oxidative Stress. K. Esposito et al.; October 2002
- Linus Pauling Institute: Micronutrient Information Center: Inflammation; Victoria J. Drake, Ph.D. et al.; August 2010
- Linus Pauling Institute: Micronutrient Information Center: Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load; Jane Higdon, Ph.D. et al.; February 2009
- "Journal of the American College of Cardiology"; The Effects of Diet on Inflammation; Dario Giugliano, M.D., Ph.D. et al.; July 2006
