Eat Less Fat: Health Resolutions & Benefits
- A new study from the University of California, Riverside, suggests that high-fat diets can considerably affect genes associated with obesity, colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, the immune system,...
- the mice were divided into groups and fed diets where at least 40% of the calories came from fat, sourced from coconut oil (saturated fat), modified soybean oil...
- Frances Sladek, a cell biology professor at UC Riverside and the study's senior author, noted that while plant-based diets are often considered healthier, a high-fat diet, even from...
Want to make impactful health resolutions? A new study reveals high-fat diets, even from plant-based sources, can negatively affect your genes, gut health, and even increase COVID-19 risk factors. The research, conducted on mice, found that diets high in soybean oil and other fats led to meaningful changes in gene expression linked to obesity, immune response, and brain function. Reducing your intake of high-fat foods could be crucial for overall health.News Directory 3 shares vital health insights. Explore how these findings can help you better manage your diet and discover how to eat less fat for better health.Discover what’s next …
High-Fat Diets Impact Genes, Gut Health, and COVID-19 Risk
Updated June 23, 2025
A new study from the University of California, Riverside, suggests that high-fat diets can considerably affect genes associated with obesity, colon cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, the immune system, and even the risk of contracting COVID-19. The research examined the effects of different high-fat diets on mice over 24 weeks, focusing on genetic changes in the intestines and the microbiome.
the mice were divided into groups and fed diets where at least 40% of the calories came from fat, sourced from coconut oil (saturated fat), modified soybean oil (monounsaturated), or unmodified soybean oil (polyunsaturated). All three groups showed concerning changes in gene expression compared to a low-fat control group. Gene expression is the process by which genetic facts is used to create functional products like proteins.
Frances Sladek, a cell biology professor at UC Riverside and the study’s senior author, noted that while plant-based diets are often considered healthier, a high-fat diet, even from plant sources, can have detrimental effects. The study,published in Scientific Reports,details the various impacts of high-fat diets on the body.
Researchers observed changes in genes related to fat metabolism and gut bacteria composition. They found an increase in pathogenic E. coli and a decrease in Bacteroides, which helps protect against pathogens. More surprisingly, they also saw changes in genes regulating susceptibility to infectious diseases.
“We saw pattern recognition genes, ones that recognize infectious bacteria, take a hit,” Sladek said. “We saw cytokine signaling genes take a hit, which help the body control inflammation. So, it’s a double whammy.these diets impair immune system genes in the host, and they also create an environment in which harmful gut bacteria can thrive.”
The study also revealed that all three high-fat diets increased the expression of ACE2 and other host proteins used by COVID spike proteins to enter the body, building on previous work linking soybean oil to obesity and diabetes, both COVID risk factors.
Moreover, the researchers observed increased signs of stem cells in the colon, which Sladek said could be precursors to cancer.Coconut oil led to the most significant changes in gene expression, followed by unmodified soybean oil. The differences between the two soybean oils suggest that linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid in unmodified soybean oil, plays a role in altering gene expression.
Changes to the microbiome were more pronounced in mice fed the soybean oil diet, consistent with previous findings on the negative health effects of high soybean oil consumption. Earlier research in 2015 linked soybean oil to obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, and fatty liver in mice.A 2020 study showed it could also affect genes in the brain related to conditions like autism, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and depression.
the current study also found that high-fat diets altered the expression of several neurotransmitter genes,reinforcing the idea of a gut-brain axis influenced by diet. Poonamjot Deol, a UC Riverside microbiologist and co-first author, clarified that these findings apply specifically to soybean oil, not other soy products like tofu or soybeans themselves.”There are some really good things about soybeans. But to much of that oil is just not good for you,” Deol said.
While the study was conducted on mice, and results may not directly translate to humans, humans and mice share a high percentage of working DNA. Given that soybean oil is the most commonly consumed oil in the United States and is increasingly used in other countries,including Brazil,China,and India,the findings raise concerns.
Deol noted that Americans often get nearly 40% of their calories from fat, similar to the diets fed to the mice. “Some fat is necessary in the diet, perhaps 10 to 15%. Most people though, at least in this country, are getting at least three times the amount that they need,” Deol said.
The researchers emphasized that the observed changes resulted from long-term high-fat consumption, not a single meal. The mice were fed these diets for 24 weeks, which Deol equated to “starting from childhood and continuing until middle age” in human terms.
What’s next
The researchers hope this study will encourage people to carefully consider their eating habits and understand that regular consumption of high-fat foods can impact the immune system and brain function, possibly negating the benefits of exercise.