"Exploring the Health Implications of High-Fat Diets on Body and Microbiome"

A UC Riverside study has found that high-fat diets, including those with fats from plant sources like soybean and coconut oil, can lead to negative changes in gene expression related to obesity, colon cancer, immune system function, and brain health. The research, conducted on mice, showed that diets with at least 40% of calories from fat altered the microbiome and increased the expression of genes that could affect susceptibility to infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The study suggests that even plant-based high-fat diets can be detrimental and emphasizes the importance of moderation in dietary fat intake.