Macrophages become “slugs”: Sugar reduces the ability of white blood cells (macrophages and neutrophils) to engulf and destroy invaders such as bacteria and viruses and cancer cells by 40 – 90% . Studies show that about 1/3 cup of sugar, roughly the amount in two cans of soda, suppresses immune system effectiveness quite dramatically for two hours after ingestion, with the suppressive effect for five hours.
Glucose and Vitamin C competitive inhibition: Sugar and Vitamin C have similar chemical structures and compete for entry into the cells. When there is more sugar/glucose around, less vitamin C gets into the cell due to competitive inhibition. A blood sugar value of 120 reduces by 75% the phagocytic index (the average number of bacteria ingested per leukocyte of the patient’s blood).
Sugar inhibits growth hormone: Sugar raises insulin levels, which reduces the release of growth hormones, which then depresses the immune system.
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» Ngkeekwong F. et al.“Two distinct uptake mechanisms for ascorbate and dehydroascorbate in human lymphoblasts and their interaction with glucose.” Biochem J. 1997 May 15;324 ( Pt 1):225-30.
» Washko P, et al “Inhibition of ascorbic acid transport in human neutrophils by glucose”. J Biol Chem. 1992 Nov 25;267(33):23568-74.
» Brennan LA, et al “The effect of vitamin C or vitamin E supplementation on basal and H2O2-induced DNA damage in human lymphocytes.” Br J Nutr. 2000 Aug;84(2):195-202.
» Lanzi, R. et al “Elevated insulin levels contribute to the reduced growth hormone (GH) response to GH-releasing hormone in obese subjects” Metabolism. Volume 48, Issue 9, (September 1999), p. 1152