Inflammatory bowel disease: Eating too much sugar makes symptoms worse

Sugar and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) don’t mix. Science has in fact already established a link between a diet high in sugar and an increased risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease. It is also known that the consumption of sugar is a cause of inflammation and that increasing its consumption exposes us to diseases, such as obesity, chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. But new research from the University of Pittsburgh reports that consuming a high-sugar diet may also worsen symptoms in people with IBD.

Sugar-fed mice all die during the experiment

For the study, Dr. Hand and his team simply used a mouse model to test the effect of a standard or high-sugar diet on IBD. The chosen mice were fed a standard or high-sugar diet and then treated with a chemical to mimic IBD-specific colon damage. Scientists have reported that:

• During the study, all mice fed a high-sugar diet died within 9 days of the 14-day experiment;
• All mice fed a standard diet survived the 14 days.

At the end of the experiment, the researchers examined the colon of mice that had died after eating a high-sugar diet and found that it inhibited the healing or regeneration process of the gut.

High sugar diet inhibits colon healing

For the authors of this research, the event is indicative of a dysfunction increased by sugar:

“The intestine is covered with an epithelial layer, like the skin, but with a layer of mucus on its surface. This intestinal barrier must regenerate every three to five days and does so via the action of “stem cells” which are dividing to constantly make new copies of themselves. We found that high sugar concentrations directly affected the ability of gut stem cells to regenerate in response to damage.”

Dr. Hand, the study’s first author, suggests that people with IBD should avoid sugary soft drinks, anything sweet, or anything that can add sugar fast. However, it is advisable to discuss any dietary changes with your doctor first.

What is inflammatory bowel disease?

Inflammatory bowel disease occurs when the body’s immune system attacks your intestines, causing inflammation, pain, and swelling in the intestines. Symptoms of IBD include:

• Fatigue ;
• Fever, night sweats or both;
• Vomiting, nausea and diarrhea;
• Loss of appetite ;
• Stomach pain and cramps;
• Unexplained weight loss;
• Articular pain ;
• Blood in stool.

Currently without treatment, the only option for people who suffer from it is to reduce the symptoms and avoid any complications. In addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, drinking enough, and reducing alcohol and cigarettes, reducing sugar consumption could therefore improve the quality of life.