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Systematic consumption of fast food "kills" the immune system
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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German specialists representing the University of Bonn conducted a study that demonstrated that human immunity "responds" to the consumption of fast food in much the same way as to the introduction of a microbial infection. Moreover, the immune defense is damaged by fast food so much that the subsequent transition to healthy and wholesome products does not lead to its restoration.
The scientists began their experiment by studying rodents. They fed healthy mice initially "wrong" food: many people call such a diet a "Western" diet. The mice consumed large amounts of saturated fats, salt, and simple carbohydrates, and almost negligible amounts of plant foods and fiber.
"The unhealthy diet unexpectedly triggered a sharp increase in the number of individual immune cells in the rodents' blood. In particular, the increase affected monocytes and granulocytes," says Annette Christ, head of the research project. "These changes indicated damage to the immune cells that were precursors in bone marrow structures."
Following their remarkable discovery, the researchers also determined that such unhealthy eating habits led to the development of acute inflammation and stimulated certain genes in precursor immunocytes. These cellular structures are responsible for the division of immune cells within the body. It has previously been proven that such structures are capable of “remembering” information about damage. Thus, after damage, the defense system remains active and can potentially quickly respond to subsequent attacks.
In the course of the research, the internal immune programming reaction was activated not by a viral or microbial infection, but by a certain type of nutrition. Careful evaluation of the rodents' blood cell structures led to the scientists discovering the inflammasome, a protein complex responsible for identifying the infectious agent and stimulating the inflammatory response.
Similar inflammatory reactions were observed in the bodies of patients with diabetes, heart disease, and autoimmune processes. It is not the first time that specialists have raised the issue of the relationship between unhealthy eating and immune system disorders. However, for the first time, scientists have obtained clear evidence of the existence of long-term complications that “kill” immunity in a living organism. The results obtained during the study forced specialists to seriously think about the quality of people’s nutrition.
Considering the annual global increase in obesity and diabetes, one can draw a clear conclusion: unhealthy food in the form of fast food and processed foods can seriously harm human health.
Indeed, today many people cannot imagine their lives without visiting fast food restaurants, without eating hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries. It is no secret that, for example, in the United States, obesity associated with constant consumption of fast food has become the number one problem for both doctors and patients themselves. Therefore, the conclusions made by scientists can become vital for many people.
Full details of the study have been published by New Atlas.