Impact of Dietary Fructose and High Salt Diet: Are Preclinical Studies Relevant to Asian Societies?

Abstract

Fructose consumption, especially in food additives and sugar-sweetened beverages, has gained increasing attention due to its potential association with obesity and metabolic syndrome. The relationship between fructose and a high-salt diet, leading to hypertension and other deleterious cardiovascular parameters, has also become more evident, especially in preclinical studies. However, these studies have been modeled primarily on Western diets. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the dietary habits of individuals from China, Japan, and Korea, in light of the existing preclinical studies, to assess the potential relevance of existing data to East Asian societies. This review is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to highlight the similarities and differences that should be considered in future preclinical, clinical, and epidemiologic studies regarding the impact of dietary fructose and salt on blood pressure and cardiovascular health worldwide.

Renal effects and safety between Asian and non‐Asian chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes treated with nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid antagonists

“…Indeed, the dietary factors such as high salt, sugar, and fat, alone or in various permutations, are supposed to promote the onset and development of cardiovascular, renal, and endocrine disorders. 39 , 40 Excessive salt intake triggers renal Rac1 upregulation, followed by increased Sgk1 expressions, a downstream molecule of MR signal, indicating salt‐induced activation of Rac1‐MR pathway. 41 , 42 In kidney, MR activation promotes the transcription of the basolateral Na + /K + ‐ATPase and the apical epithelial Na + channel, resulting in the increasing reabsorption of Na + and excretion of K + .…”

“…First, the dietary habit of Asians tends to high sodium food. Indeed, the dietary factors such as high salt, sugar, and fat, alone or in various permutations, are supposed to promote the onset and development of cardiovascular, renal, and endocrine disorders 39,40 . Excessive salt intake triggers renal Rac1 upregulation, followed by increased Sgk1 expressions, a downstream molecule of MR signal, indicating salt‐induced activation of Rac1‐MR pathway 41,42 .…”

Dietary Patterns and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Asia

“…One of the patterns, characterized by high intakes of fish, poultry, and other staples, as well as fresh fruit and vegetables, was correlated with a higher body mass index, waist circumference, and LDL cholesterol, and positively associated with the risk of diabetes mellitus [3]. The impact of dietary fructose and a high salt diet on hypertension and cardiovascular risk was discussed through selected studies in Japan, China, and South Korea [8]. They reviewed dietary sodium consumption through 12 studies and dietary fructose intake from 8 studies, indicating that people in these countries tended to have lower fructose and higher salt intake compared with Western populations.…”