Basically, the fat accumulates in the liver, leading to organ dysfunction and death.
Psychologists from Johns Hopkins University found that the human body is able to support the breakdown of fat even when disturbed liver functions.
However, meals high in fat can kill a human body. A study published in the journal Cell Reports.
During fasting, the body keeps the level of sugar in the blood through gluconeogenesis — formation of glucose from non-carbohydrate compounds, such as fats. It is believed that gluconeogenesis occurs mainly in liver and only slightly — in the gut and kidneys. However, when the researchers turned off the gene CPT2 required for fatty acid oxidation, in liver cells of mice, physiologists found that the animals survived for an extended period of time.
The researchers also fed genetically modified mice with disabled gene CPT2 food with high fat content. It turned out that more the fat accumulated in the liver, leading to complete dysfunction of the body and ultimately to death.
Since the destruction of fats produces ketones, which are used as an additional source of energy, this process becomes active in people suffering from diabetes. Too many ketones in the blood contribute to the onset of ketoacidosis, which can lead to death. Scientists hope that further studies will help determine how the body’s ability to adapt to the metabolic can prevent ketoacidosis.
