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. 2024 May 13:15:1358341.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1358341. eCollection 2024.

Free sugar intake is associated with reduced proportion of circulating invariant natural killer T cells among women experiencing overweight and obesity

Renad M Alhamawi  1 , Yahya A Almutawif  1 , Bushra H Aloufi  1 , Jory F Alotaibi  1 , Manar F Alharbi  1 , Nura M Alsrani  1 , Razan M Alinizy  1 , Waad S Almutairi  1 , Wed A Alaswad  1 , Hamza M A Eid  1 , Walaa A Mumena  2
Affiliations

Free sugar intake is associated with reduced proportion of circulating invariant natural killer T cells among women experiencing overweight and obesity

Renad M Alhamawi et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

Background: Higher prevalence of obesity has been observed among women compared to men, which can be explained partly by the higher consumption of sweets and physical inactivity. Obesity can alter immune cell infiltration, and therefore increase the susceptibility to develop chronic inflammation and metabolic disorders. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between free sugar intake and other unhealthy lifestyle habits in relation to the proportion of circulating iNKT cells among women with healthy weight and women experiencing overweight and obesity.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 51 Saudi women > 18 years, wherein their daily free sugar intake was assessed using the validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Data on smoking status, physical activity, and supplement use were also collected. Anthropometric data including height, weight, waist circumference were objectively measured from each participants. The proportion of circulating iNKT cells was determined using flow cytometry.

Results: Smoking, physical activity, supplement use, and weight status were not associated with proportion of circulating iNKT cells. Significant association was found between proportion of circulating iNKT cells and total free sugar intake and free sugar intake coming from solid food sources only among women experiencing overweight and obesity (Beta: -0.10: Standard Error: 0.04 [95% Confidence Interval: -0.18 to -0.01], p= 0.034) and (Beta: -0.15: Standard Error: 0.05 [95% Confidence Interval: -0.25 to -0.05], p= 0.005), respectively.

Conclusion: Excessive free sugar consumption may alter iNKT cells and consequently increase the risk for chronic inflammation and metabolic disorders.

Keywords: central obesity; free sugar intake; iNKT cells; physical activity; smoking; weight status.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Gating Strategy for the identification of iNKT cell population in peripheral blood. PBMCs isolated from whole blood were stained with anti-CD3, anti-CD4 and anti-Vα24Jα18 mAbs. Cells were pre-gated on live, single, and CD4+ cells before identifying the iNKT cells population (CD3+ Vα24Jα18+ cells).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Neither weight status nor waist circumference have influences on peripheral iNKT cells. (A) Percentage of iNKT cells based on body mass index. (B) Percentage of iNKT cells based on waist circumference.
Figure 3
Figure 3
High sugar intake affects the frequency of circulating iNKT cells. (A) Percentage of iNKT cells based on smoking status. (B) Percentage of iNKT cells based on physical activity. (C) Percentage of iNKT cells based on supplement use. (D) Percentage of iNKT cells based on free sugar intake.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Free sugar intake is associated with decreasing the proportion of circulating iNKT cells in women experiencing overweight and obesity. (A) Association between percentage of iNKT and total free sugar in healthy women. (B) Association between percentage of iNKT and total free sugar in women experiencing overweight and obesity. (C) Association between percentage of iNKT and free sugar coming from solid food sources in healthy women. (D) Association between percentage of iNKT and free sugar coming from solid food sources in women experiencing overweight and obesity.
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Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through the project number (445-9-662).