Adolescent high fructose consumption induces cardiac dysfunction in adulthood via elevated histone acetylation

High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) has increasingly displaced sucrose throughout the world due to its lower cost. Importantly, there has been more fructose in HFCS, vis a vis glucose, than is considered safe, and generally-recognized-as-safe (GRAS). Fructose is linked to hypertension, lipid dysregulation and insulin resistance, all of which increase the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of adolescent high fructose intake on adult cardiac function and elucidate the mechanisms. Most studies to date overemphasize the overconsumption of sugar, HFCS, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in particular as the primary culprit, while placing insufficient emphasis on the inherently unsafe fructose-to-glucose ratio in HFCS. Moreover, a growing body of research has identified a close correlation between direct fructose exposure and the pathogenesis of various diseases.

Young mice were given high-fructose drinking (HFD) water from 3 to 8 weeks of age. Cardiac ultrasound and histochemical staining were performed to assess cardiac structure and pathology. Heart tissues and cells were collected for quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis to determine the mRNA levels of Anp, Bnp, β-MHC, Col1a1, Col3a1, Cpt1b, as well as histone acetylation status.

Compared with controls, HFD mice exhibited ventricular dilation, impaired cardiac function, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, and increased myocardial fibrosis. In the high-fructose group, Bnp and β-MHC mRNA expression was upregulated, whereas Cpt1b expression was reduced. Mechanistically, histone acetylation levels were elevated in the high-fructose group, accompanied by decreased SIRT1 protein expression in heart tissues-a key indicator of aging related heart changes and CVD.

Adolescent high fructose intake impairs adult cardiac function by downregulating Cpt1b and increasing histone acetylation, suggesting novel mechanisms and therapeutic targets for fructose-induced cardiac dysfunction.