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A research team led by Ina Bergheim from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Vienna has shown for the first time that consuming fructose causes monocytes, key immune cells in the blood, to respond more strongly to bacterial toxins in a harmful way. Fructose Raises Receptors That Detect Bacterial Toxins The researchers found that fructose intake, unlike glucose, increased the levels of Toll-like receptor 2 in monocytes. The concentration of receptors for such toxins in the body increased, which means that the inflammatory response increased," explains study leader Ina Bergheim from the University of Vienna. "They indicate that even short-term, high fructose consumption in healthy people can influence the immune system and increase inflammation." Implications for Metabolic Health and Future Research The researchers emphasize that further studies are needed to determine how long-term, consistently high fructose intake may affect immune function and vulnerability to infection."