Wild type but not fructokinase knockout animals demonstrate severe kidney injury associated with ATP depletion, elevated uric acid, oxidative stress and inflammation.

This enzyme system converts glucose into fructose, which is then metabolized by the fructokinase enzyme, releasing oxidative stress and uric acid, both of which can cause local tubular injury.

Mice lacking the ability to metabolize fructose don’t gain nearly as much weight as normal mice do, researchers report September 10 in Nature Communications. Fructose, which some people blame ...