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Enjoying sugary treats can be fun (and tasty) in moderation. But the bittersweet truth is that consumingtoo much added sugarcan impact your overall health. A study published in May 2023 inCellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatologyhas found that consuming high amounts of added sugars can exacerbate symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
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The study used a mouse model to analyze and compare the effects of a standard or high-sugar diet on IBD. Mice that consumed added sugar in excess experienced poor colon healing and impaired intestinal repair. Though the research was done on animals, these findings suggest that the more than 3 million adults in the U.S. who have IBD, per theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention), may want to be mindful of theiradded sugar consumption.
In this article, we’ll look closer at the study’s findings and their implications for managing IBD effectively.
What the Study Found
One possible explanation for this link is that high levels of added sugars can disrupt the balance ofgut bacteria, leading to inflammation and increased intestinal permeability (or “leaks” in the gut). That’s why the research team examined the animals' colons (large intestines) to help them determine why high added sugar intake killed off the control group.
“We found that stem cells were dividing much more slowly in the presence of sugar—likely too slow to repair damage to the colon. The other strange thing we noticed was that the metabolism of the cells was different. These cells usually prefer to use fatty acids, but after being grown in high-sugar conditions, they seemed to get locked into using sugar,” said Hand in the press release.
While this study used a mouse model, other research on humans corroborates the idea that sugar may be generally harmful for gut health. A 2021 study published inMolecular Medicine Reportsfound that elevated blood glucose levels from excess sugar consumption worsened gastrointestinal symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. Also, another study published inNutrientsin 2019 determined that reducing the intake of starch and sucrose (two types of sugars) improved GI symptoms in IBS patients.
That said, more research on the link between sugar consumption and IBD is needed on humans.
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The Bottom Line
New research from the University of Pittsburgh shows that consuming high amounts of added sugars may be particularly harmful if you have IBD. The research, done on animals, found that mice fed a diet high in added sugar showed impaired gut healing compared to mice fed a standard diet.
These findings highlight the importance for IBD patients to pay close attention to their added sugar consumption. With further human research supporting these findings, talk to your doctor about dietary changes, like reducing added sugar intake, and how it may help you manage your IBD.
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