Study decodes how drinking sugary beverages raises diabetes risk

IANS February 3, 2025 227 views

Scientists have uncovered a fascinating link between sugary drinks and diabetes risk through gut microbiome analysis. The research reveals how consuming two or more sugary beverages daily can dramatically change bacterial populations in our digestive system. Researchers found specific metabolite changes that correlate with increased diabetes likelihood over ten years. This groundbreaking study provides crucial insights into how our beverage choices might impact long-term metabolic health.

"Our study suggests a potential mechanism to explain why sugar-sweetened beverages are bad for your metabolism" - Qibin Qi, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Study decodes how drinking sugary beverages raises diabetes risk
New Delhi, Feb 3: A team of US researchers has decoded the role of gut microbes in increasing the risk of diabetes after consuming sugary drinks.

Key Points

1

Sugary drinks alter nine bacterial species in gut microbiome

2

Metabolite changes linked to higher diabetes risk

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High beverage intake impacts glucose metabolism

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Study examined over 16,000 participants

The study, published in the paper appearing in the journal Cell Metabolism, shows that metabolites produced by gut microbes might play a role.

In the study, the team identified differences in the gut microbiota and blood metabolites of individuals with a high intake of sugar-sweetened beverages. They found that high sugary beverage intake -- defined as two or more sugary beverages per day -- led to changes in nine species of bacteria.

Four of these species are known to produce short-chain fatty acids -- molecules that are produced when bacteria digest fibre. These are known to positively impact glucose metabolism.

The altered metabolite profile seen in sugary beverage drinkers was associated with a higher risk of developing diabetes in the subsequent 10 years, said the researchers.

"Our study suggests a potential mechanism to explain why sugar-sweetened beverages are bad for your metabolism," said Qibin Qi, an epidemiologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

"Although our findings are observational, they provide insights for potential diabetes prevention or management strategies using the gut microbiome," Qi added.

The researcher noted that more than in solid foods, added sugar in beverages "might be more easily absorbed, and they have a really high energy density because they're just sugar and water".

The team examined data from over 16,000 participants. In addition to changes in gut microbiota, the researchers also found associations between sugary beverage consumption and 56 serum metabolites. This includes several metabolites that are produced by gut microbiota or are derivatives of gut-microbiota-produced metabolites.

These sugar-associated metabolites were associated with worse metabolic traits, including higher levels of fasting blood glucose and insulin, higher BMIs and waist-to-hip ratios, and lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ("good" cholesterol).

"We found that several microbiota-related metabolites are associated with the risk of diabetes," said Qi. "In other words, these metabolites may predict future diabetes."

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