Fructose and Fat Storage: An Evolutionary Perspective with Rick Johnson, MD

This conversation was recorded on June 24th, 2021. In this interview, Mitch Belkin and Daniel Belkin speak with Dr. Johnson about fructose and its relationship to fat storage. They discuss uric acid as a cause of kidney inflammation and essential hypertension, how glucose intake can trigger endogenous fructose production, and the relationship between salt and obesity. Finally, they touch on the evolutionary history of uric acid metabolism and the potential role for fructokinase inhibitors in treating metabolic disease.

[Listen to our second podcast with Rick Johnson here]

Who is Rick Johnson?

Dr. Johnson is a Professor of Nephrology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is one of the world’s leading experts on fructose. His research focuses on the role of fructose and uric acid in obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease. He has over 700 publications, in journals including JAMA and the NEJM. He is also the author of two books for a general audience, The Fat Switch and The Sugar Fix.

References

Uric Acid levels predicts future hypertension

Uric acid and its relationship with pediatric hypertension 

Randomized Trial - Allopurinol on hypertensive adolescents 

Endogenous fructose production and kidney inflammation

High salt diet and endogenous fructose production in mice

How osmolality of soup increases blood pressure 

Fructose, Uricase, and the Back-to-Africa Hypothesis 

Books:

1. The Fat Switch

2. The Sugar Fix

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What is the External Medicine Podcast?

The External Medicine Podcast explores some of the most exciting ideas in medicine. Co-hosted by Daniel Belkin, MD, and Mitch Belkin, MD.

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