Discover! >> New Research Links Reused Deep-Fried Oil Linked To Neurodegeneration

A study on animals indicates that consumption of grease interferes with the connections between the liver, gut, and brain.

A recent study revealed increased neurodegeneration in rats and their offspring that were fed reused deep-frying oils, compared to those on a standard diet. Deep frying, which involves completely submerging food in hot oil, is a common method of food preparation around the world.

Results from the study also suggest that the increased neurodegeneration is tied to the oil’s effects on the bidirectional communication network between the liver, gut, and brain. The liver-gut-brain axis plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological functions, and its dysregulation has been associated with neurological disorders.

Kathiresan Shanmugam, an associate professor from Central University of Tamil Nadu in Thiruvarur, led the research team.

“Deep-frying at high temperatures has been linked with several metabolic disorders, but there have been no long-term investigations on the influence of deep-fried oil consumption and its detrimental effects on health,” said Shanmugam, formerly at Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai. “To our knowledge, we are first to report long-term deep-fried oil supplementation increases neurodegeneration in the first-generation offspring.”

Sugasini Dhavamani, a research collaborator from the University of Illinois at Chicago, presented the research at Discover BMB, the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, which was held March 23–26 in San Antonio.

HEALTH RISKS OF REUSING OIL

Deep frying food not only adds calorieS but reusing the same oil for frying, a common practice in both homes and restaurants, removes many of the oil’s natural antioxidants and health benefits.

Oil that is reused also can contain harmful components such as acrylamide, trans fat, peroxides, and polar compounds.

More studies in this stead are currently in progress. As a next step, the researchers would like to study the effects of deep-frying oil on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s as well as on anxiety, depression and neuroinflammation. They would also like to further explore the relationship between gut microbiota and the brain to identify potential new ways to prevent or treat neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation.