High-fat diet increases immune response, potentially worsening inflammation.
The study looked at how different fats and cholesterol in the blood affect the sensitivity of immune cells called macrophages to a harmful substance called endotoxin. They found that palmitic acid, oleic acid, and VLDL can make macrophages more sensitive to endotoxin by activating a protein called NFκB. This means that these fats and cholesterol might play a role in making the immune system more reactive to infections.