Diabetes is associated with activation of the polyol pathway, in which glucose is converted to
sorbitol by aldose reductase. Previous studies focused on the role of sorbitol in mediating
diabetic complications. However, in the proximal tubule, sorbitol can be converted to
fructose, which is then metabolized largely by fructokinase, also known as ketohexokinase,
leading to ATP depletion, proinflammatory cytokine expression, and oxidative stress. We
and others recently identified a potential deleterious role of dietary fructose in the generation …