Eating a lot of sugar makes a protective enzyme called intestinal alkaline phosphatase less active in fruit flies and human gut cells in a lab setting.

Scientific Claim

High sugar consumption is associated with reduced intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) activity in both Drosophila melanogaster and human intestinal cell co-cultures.

Original Statement

“We found that high sugar reduced IAP activity in both models.”

From study:Effect of dietary additives on intestinal permeability in both Drosophila and a human cell co-culture

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The study used animal and in vitro models without human randomization or control, so it can only show association, not causation. The language 'associated with' appropriately reflects the study design.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Effect of dietary additives on intestinal permeability in both Drosophila and a human cell co-culture

Cannot Determine

Animal

2018 Nov 28

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Effect of dietary additives on intestinal permeability in both Drosophila and a human cell co-culture

Score: 3

DOI: 10.1242/dmm.034520

Similar Assertions

The amount of a protective enzyme in the gut doesn't always match how leaky the gut is in fruit flies, suggesting other factors are involved.

81%

Eating a lot of sugar makes the gut more leaky in fruit flies and human gut cells in a lab setting, which can be seen when blue dye leaks out of the gut in flies or when a special dye passes through gut cells more easily.

75%

Eating a lot of sugar makes fruit flies have smaller guts and smaller bodies overall.

72%

The bacteria in the gut interact with sugar to affect how leaky the gut is in fruit flies and human gut cells in a lab setting.

71%