Sugar Can Worsen Gut Health While You Take Antibiotics, New Study Finds

Key Points:

• A new study published in a scientific journal found that consuming high amounts of sugar while taking antibiotics significantly disrupts the gut microbiome, particularly in hospitalized cancer patients, leading to a loss of beneficial bacteria and an overgrowth of harmful microbes like Enterococcus faecium.
• Researchers observed a 21% decrease in gut microbiome diversity for every 100 grams of sugar consumed during the 48 hours around antibiotic treatment, with mouse experiments confirming a 16-fold increase in harmful bacteria when sugar and antibiotics were combined.
• Experts suggest that sugar may give surviving harmful bacteria an advantage during antibiotic treatment, worsening microbiome imbalance, and recommend limiting added sugars during this vulnerable period to support gut health.
• While the study focused on seriously ill patients, researchers advise otherwise healthy individuals taking antibiotics to also be mindful of sugar intake, as dietary changes during antibiotic use are low-risk and potentially beneficial.
• Nutritionists recommend reducing added sugars and focusing on fiber-rich, minimally processed foods, fermented foods, and adequate protein while on antibiotics, but emphasize that natural sugars from fruits and dairy need not be eliminated.