There ’s an old locution , “ bung a frigid , hunger a pyrexia . ” But according to a recent study in the journalCell , it might be more exact to say , " Feed a viral infection , hunger a bacterial infection . " That is , when you ’re sick with a bacterial infection , fast may be more efficacious than feasting , while viral contagion may be alleviated by reaching for some chicken soup .
New Scientistreports that researchers at Yale wanted to determine the impingement food for thought has on illness recovery , so they flesh out up a group of lab shiner for some tests . They infected some mice with inflaming - triggering molecules from bacteria , and others with rubor - touch off molecule from viruses . Then , they observed the impression of food ( in this case , sugar glucose ) on computer mouse recovery . They found that for mice with viral excitation response , consumption of glucose helped quicken recovery . For mice with bacterial inflammation responses , however , glucose was n’t just inefficient — it in reality made them sicker , triggering seizures and even decease .
Researchers consider glucose helped protect the brain cell of mice with viral infections from inflammation . In the case of bacterially infected computer mouse , however , glucose digestion generate free radicals that ended up damaging nerve cell within the brain . Meanwhile , chemical called ketones , produced by the body of fasting , bacteria - infect mice , seemed to protect these mice against neuronal damage .
investigator still demand to conduct more research to determine the precise implications of the subject field for humankind . The next dance step , lead researcher Ruslan Medzhitov says , is to study the event of eating or fast on patients with sepsis ( a complication of an infection that can cause organ failure ) . But for now , Medzhitov take , it ’s a good idea to heed to your body when you get demented : If you ’re feel hectic and starve , it ’s likely you have a viral contagion and should consume . But if you ’re fed up and lack an appetite , you may have a bacterial infection and might need to abbreviate down on your food intake . As Medzhitov explains , “ We think during illness one change nutrient preferences to support the appropriate metabolic programme . ”
[ h / tNew Scientist ]
