Sugar consumption disrupts gut microbiome during antibiotic treatment

A study published in the journal ‘Nature’ indicates that consuming high amounts of sugar during antibiotic treatment can significantly disrupt the gut microbiome. Researchers analyzed the diets and fecal samples of 173 cancer patients undergoing intensive antibiotic treatment and stem cell transplants.

By tracking over 9,400 hospital-prepared meals, researchers found that every 100-gram increase in the consumption of sweets and sweetened beverages was associated with an approximately 24 percent decrease in gut microbiome diversity. This disruption allows for the proliferation of potentially harmful bacteria, such as ‘Enterococcus faecium’, which can cause serious bloodstream infections in immunocompromised individuals.

Animal testing on mice corroborated these findings, showing that adding sugar to the diet following antibiotic administration led to a 33-fold increase in certain bacteria by the sixth day. While the study focused on hospitalized cancer patients, experts suggest the findings highlight the importance of dietary management, such as increasing fiber and fermented foods, to protect gut health during antibiotic courses.