Sugar intake linked to gut bacteria disruption during antibiotic use

A study published in the journal Nature suggests that high sugar consumption during antibiotic treatment may worsen the disruption of gut bacteria. Researchers from NYU Langone Health, City of Hope, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center analyzed the diets and microbiomes of 173 patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for blood cancers.

By tracking over 9,400 meals and collecting gut samples, the team found that increased intake of sweets and sugary drinks during exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics was associated with a significant decline in microbial diversity. Specifically, every additional 100 grams of sugary foods or drinks was linked to an estimated 21% to 24% further reduction in the variety of gut microorganisms.

The combination of antibiotics and high sugar intake was also associated with an increased abundance of Enterococcus faecium, an opportunistic bacterium that can cause difficult-to-treat infections in immunocompromised individuals. While the findings are observational and may be influenced by overall lower food intake in some patients, the research highlights how diet may influence the gut's ability to maintain balance during medical treatment.