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Eliminating sugar from your diet may seem like the solution Healthy eatingBut research suggests that it may have unintended effects on digestive health.
A study presented at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society’s annual meeting, suggests that a complete lack of sucrose, or table sugar, may harm Gut health And disrupting the body’s natural metabolism.
To explore how the complete absence of dietary sugar affects the body, researchers at the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait City conducted a 16-week study on two groups of mice. Both groups were put on a low-fat diet, but with one crucial difference.
One group ate a low-fat diet containing a standard amount of sucrose, while the other group ate a standard amount of sucrose Low-fat diet Which was completely sugar-free, according to the study’s press release.
Throughout the experiment, scientists monitored a wide range of physiological factors, including the animals’ weight, glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, hormone levels, internal inflammation, and the specific composition of gut bacteria.
The researchers said that a complete lack of dietary sugar can cause imbalances in gut bacteria and lead to signs of fatty liver disease, even without any weight gain. (Istock)
The results of the study indicate that completely removing sugar causes many unexpected health problems.
“Removing sucrose completely from a low-fat diet may unexpectedly disrupt gut health and promote inflammation and metabolic dysfunction,” Rashid Ahmed, lead scientist and head of the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at the Dasman Diabetes Institute, said in the statement.
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Although the mice on a sugar-free diet did not gain anything Excess weight Compared to the control group, their internal health indicators deteriorated.
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Animals that lacked sucrose had impaired balance Gut microbes Increased inflammation within the intestines and liver.
They also showed signs of impaired glucose regulation, insulin resistance and cellular changes associated with fatty liver disease, according to the research.
Future dietary guidelines may shift away from strict and absolute bans on sugar and instead focus on overall gut health through balanced nutrition. (Istock)
“The results suggest that complete removal of sucrose from a low-fat diet may negatively impact gut microbiota and metabolic health,” Ahmed concluded.
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While the risks High-sugar diets Researchers have noted that little attention has been paid to the effects of completely eliminating sugar from low-fat diets.
Scientists say these new findings highlight that dietary carbohydrates play an important role in supporting balance between the immune system and gut microbiome.
Completely abstaining from sucrose from a low-fat diet can unexpectedly lead to intestinal inflammation and disrupt metabolism, experts say. (Istock)
Because this research was conducted in mice over a relatively short period of 16 weeks, further clinical trials are necessary to determine whether a completely sugar-free diet causes the same intestinal and liver inflammation in humans.
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In addition, the study focused specifically on removing sucrose from low-fat diets, which means the results may not apply to people who eliminate sugar while following high-fat or high-fat diets. Ketogenic eating plansThe researchers noted.
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The team believes that future dietary guidelines may shift away from strict and absolute sugar restrictions and instead focus more on maintaining a diverse and healthy population of gut bacteria through balanced gut bacteria. feeding.
“In the long term, these findings could help improve strategies for preventing and managing metabolic disorders, fatty liver disease and chronic inflammatory conditions,” Ahmed said.
