Sugary foods while on antibiotics may harm gut bacteria, study finds

Sugary foods while on antibiotics may harm gut bacteria, study finds
Sugary foods while on antibiotics may harm gut bacteria, study finds

A selection of antibiotics. (Photo: WHO African Region)

Listen to article

6 min listen
Audio reading is not supported on this browser.
Ready

Thanks for listening. Continue with a related story, or tap the speaker icon on the next page to listen

Gene found to help harmful gut bacteria resist antibiotics, disinfectants

XINHUA

1 day agoRead nextOpens a fresh page.

Researchers found that the more intensive the antibiotic treatment was, the greater the loss of diversity in the gut microbiome. However, sugary foods appeared to make the problem worse

Eating sugary foods while taking antibiotics may damage healthy bacteria in the gut and allow harmful bacteria to grow, according to a new study published in Nature.
The research examined how antibiotics and diet affected the gut microbiome of cancer patients who were admitted to hospital and received long courses of antibiotics before undergoing stem cell transplants.
The study involved 173 patients and more than 1,000 stool samples. The patients also ate more than 9,400 meals prepared by the hospital.

Latest Stories

Guinea-Bissau military blocks ex-President Umaro Embaló from returning to country
Several killed in Ethiopia gunman attack: police
Government to spend Sh6.4 billion to expand NYS training capacity
Why Health Ministry is shifting hospitals from SHA portal to new system- Duale

The gut microbiome is the community of trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms that live in the digestive system. These organisms help the body digest food, produce some vitamins and support the immune system.
A healthy gut contains many different types of bacteria. Together, they help keep harmful bacteria under control. Antibiotics can disturb this balance because they kill bacteria that cause infections but can also destroy some helpful bacteria.
Researchers found that the more intensive the antibiotic treatment was, the greater the loss of diversity in the gut microbiome. However, sugary foods appeared to make the problem worse.
The study looked at different nutrients, including carbohydrates, fats and fibre. Researchers also examined individual foods such as chicken, apples and chocolate cake.
Most foods were not strongly linked to changes in the diversity of gut bacteria. Sugary foods were different. For every additional 3.5 ounces, or about 100 grams, of sweets consumed while patients were receiving antibiotics, the diversity of bacteria in their gut fell by about 24 per cent.
Researchers classified sweets as sugar, sweetened foods and sugary drinks. Added sugar appeared to have a particularly strong effect when combined with antibiotic treatment.
The loss of bacterial diversity was linked to an increase in Enterococcus faecium, a type of bacteria that can normally live in the gut without causing illness.
When the gut microbiome is healthy, other bacteria help keep Enterococcus under control. But when antibiotics destroy many of these bacteria, Enterococcus can multiply.
In some cases, the bacteria can move from the gut into the bloodstream and cause serious infections, including sepsis.
Researchers also carried out experiments in mice to see whether the findings observed in patients could be reproduced.
The mice were first given a broad-spectrum antibiotic, which caused a small increase in Enterococcus. When the mice were also given added sugar, however, the amount of Enterococcus increased 16 times by the third day and 33 times by the sixth day.
The increase in the bacteria continued for about eight days after antibiotic treatment.
The findings may be particularly important for patients undergoing stem cell transplants because these patients have weakened immune systems and are at high risk of infections.
The study also found that patients who consumed more sugar than average had about a 12 per cent higher risk of dying after their transplant.
However, researchers cautioned that the study does not prove that eating sugar directly caused the higher risk of death.
The research was not a randomised clinical trial in which patients were deliberately given different amounts of sugar. Instead, researchers observed what patients were already eating and compared this with changes in their gut bacteria and health outcomes.
This means the study found a link between sugar consumption, antibiotic treatment and changes in the gut microbiome, but it cannot prove that sugar itself caused infections or deaths.
The findings also raise questions about people who take antibiotics outside hospitals, including those being treated for common infections.
Researchers said more studies are needed to determine whether reducing sugar during antibiotic treatment can protect the gut microbiome and lower the risk of harmful infections.
The findings highlight the importance of diet in maintaining a healthy gut microbiome and show that antibiotics can affect the body beyond treating infections. They also suggest that what patients eat during treatment may influence how quickly the balance of bacteria in the gut is disrupted.
For now, researchers said limiting excessive sugary foods while taking antibiotics may be worth considering, although more research is needed before specific dietary recommendations can be made.

Top Stories Today

Why Health Ministry is shifting hospitals from SHA portal to new system- Duale
Several killed in Ethiopia gunman attack: police
Guinea-Bissau military blocks ex-President Umaro Embaló from returning to country
Government to spend Sh6.4 billion to expand NYS training capacity
Algeria MPs approve death penalty for people who deliberately start fires
Sugary foods while on antibiotics may harm gut bacteria, study finds

`;
}

return “;
}

function commentActionsMarkup(comment, canComment) {
const likeLabel = comment.liked_by_me ? ‘Liked’ : ‘Like’;
const likeCount = Number(comment.like_count || 0) > 0
? “
: ”;

const likeButton = canComment && comment.status === ‘approved’
? “
: “;

const replyButton = canComment && comment.status === ‘approved’
? “
: ”;

return `

`;
}

function commentMarkup(comment, canComment, isReply = false) {
const pendingBadge = comment.status && comment.status !== ‘approved’
? “
: ”;

const edited = comment.is_edited
? “
: ”;

const repliesHtml = Array.isArray(comment.replies) && comment.replies.length
? `

`
: “;

return `

`;
}

function replyFormMarkup(commentId) {
return `

`;
}

function setNotice(widget, message, type = ‘info’) {
const notice = widget.querySelector(‘[data-role=”notice”]’);
if (!notice) return;

if (!message) {
notice.hidden = true;
notice.textContent = ”;
notice.classList.remove(‘is-error’);
return;
}

notice.hidden = false;
notice.textContent = message;
notice.classList.toggle(‘is-error’, type === ‘error’);
}

function setCount(widget, total) {
const count = widget.querySelector(‘[data-role=”count”]’);
if (!count) return;

const num = Number(total || 0);
count.textContent = num === 1 ? ‘1 comment’ : `${num} comments`;
}

function openReplyBox(widget, commentId) {
widget.querySelectorAll(‘[data-role=”reply-box”]’).forEach(box => {
box.hidden = true;
box.innerHTML = ”;
});

const targetItem = widget.querySelector(`.ev-comments__item[data-comment-id=”${commentId}”]`);
if (!targetItem) return;

const replyBox = targetItem.querySelector(‘[data-role=”reply-box”]’);
if (!replyBox) return;

replyBox.hidden = false;
replyBox.innerHTML = replyFormMarkup(commentId);

const textarea = replyBox.querySelector(‘textarea’);
if (textarea) textarea.focus();
}

function closeReplyBox(container) {
if (!container) return;
container.hidden = true;
container.innerHTML = ”;
}

async function initCommentsWidget(widget) {
const state = {
articleId: Number(widget.dataset.articleId),
loadUrl: widget.dataset.loadUrl,
storeUrl: widget.dataset.storeUrl,
commentsBaseUrl: widget.dataset.commentsBaseUrl,
canComment: widget.dataset.canComment === ‘1’,
page: 1,
perPage: 10,
sort: ‘newest’,
total: 0,
hasMore: false,
busy: false
};

const list = widget.querySelector(‘[data-role=”list”]’);
const loading = widget.querySelector(‘[data-role=”loading”]’);
const empty = widget.querySelector(‘[data-role=”empty”]’);
const loadMoreBtn = widget.querySelector(‘[data-role=”load-more”]’);
const sortSelect = widget.querySelector(‘[data-role=”sort”]’);
const composerForm = widget.querySelector(‘[data-role=”composer-form”]’);

async function loadComments(reset = true) {
if (state.busy) return;

state.busy = true;
setNotice(widget, ”);
loading.hidden = false;

if (reset) {
state.page = 1;
list.innerHTML = ”;
empty.hidden = true;
}

try {
const url = new URL(state.loadUrl, window.location.origin);
url.searchParams.set(‘page’, state.page);
url.searchParams.set(‘per_page’, state.perPage);
url.searchParams.set(‘sort’, state.sort);

const response = await requestJson(url.toString(), {
method: ‘GET’,
headers: {
‘Accept’: ‘application/json’,
‘X-Requested-With’: ‘XMLHttpRequest’
}
});

const items = Array.isArray(response.data) ? response.data : [];
const meta = response.meta || {};

state.total = Number(meta.total || 0);
state.hasMore = !!meta.has_more;

setCount(widget, state.total);

if (reset) {
list.innerHTML = ”;
}

if (!items.length && reset) {
empty.hidden = false;
} else {
empty.hidden = true;
list.insertAdjacentHTML(
‘beforeend’,
items.map(item => commentMarkup(item, state.canComment, false)).join(”)
);
}

loadMoreBtn.hidden = !state.hasMore;
} catch (error) {
if (!list.children.length) {
empty.hidden = false;
empty.textContent = ‘Unable to load comments right now.’;
}
setNotice(widget, error.message || ‘Unable to load comments.’, ‘error’);
} finally {
loading.hidden = true;
state.busy = false;
}
}

async function submitTopLevelComment(form) {
const textarea = form.querySelector(‘textarea[name=”content”]’);
const button = form.querySelector(‘[data-role=”submit-comment”]’);

if (!textarea) return;

const content = textarea.value.trim();
if (!content) return;

const originalText = button ? button.textContent : ”;

try {
if (button) {
button.disabled = true;
button.textContent = ‘Posting…’;
}

const response = await requestJson(state.storeUrl, {
method: ‘POST’,
headers: buildJsonHeaders(),
body: JSON.stringify({
article_id: state.articleId,
content: content,
source_url: window.location.href
})
});

textarea.value = ”;

if (response?.data) {
list.insertAdjacentHTML(
‘afterbegin’,
commentMarkup(response.data, state.canComment, false)
);
empty.hidden = true;

if ((response.data.status || ”) === ‘approved’) {
state.total += 1;
setCount(widget, state.total);
}
}

setNotice(widget, response.message || ‘Comment posted successfully.’);
} catch (error) {
setNotice(widget, error.message || ‘Unable to post comment.’, ‘error’);
} finally {
if (button) {
button.disabled = false;
button.textContent = originalText || ‘Post comment’;
}
}
}

async function submitReply(form) {
const commentId = Number(form.dataset.commentId || 0);
const textarea = form.querySelector(‘textarea[name=”content”]’);
const button = form.querySelector(‘.ev-comments__reply-submit’);

if (!commentId || !textarea) return;

const content = textarea.value.trim();
if (!content) return;

const originalText = button ? button.textContent : ”;

try {
if (button) {
button.disabled = true;
button.textContent = ‘Posting…’;
}

const response = await requestJson(`${state.commentsBaseUrl}/${commentId}/reply`, {
method: ‘POST’,
headers: buildJsonHeaders(),
body: JSON.stringify({
article_id: state.articleId,
content: content,
source_url: window.location.href
})
});

if (response?.data) {
const parentItem = widget.querySelector(`.ev-comments__item[data-comment-id=”${commentId}”]`);
if (parentItem) {
const repliesWrap = parentItem.querySelector(‘.ev-comments__replies’);
if (repliesWrap) {
repliesWrap.insertAdjacentHTML(
‘beforeend’,
commentMarkup(response.data, state.canComment, true)
);
}
}
}

closeReplyBox(form.closest(‘[data-role=”reply-box”]’));
setNotice(widget, response.message || ‘Reply posted successfully.’);
} catch (error) {
setNotice(widget, error.message || ‘Unable to post reply.’, ‘error’);
} finally {
if (button) {
button.disabled = false;
button.textContent = originalText || ‘Post reply’;
}
}
}

async function toggleLike(button) {
const commentId = Number(button.dataset.commentId || 0);
if (!commentId) return;

const originalHtml = button.innerHTML;

try {
button.disabled = true;
button.innerHTML = ‘Working…’;

const response = await requestJson(`${state.commentsBaseUrl}/${commentId}/like`, {
method: ‘POST’,
headers: buildJsonHeaders(),
body: JSON.stringify({})
});

const liked = !!response?.data?.liked;
const likeCount = Number(response?.data?.like_count || 0);

button.classList.toggle(‘is-liked’, liked);
button.innerHTML = `${liked ? ‘Liked’ : ‘Like’} ${likeCount > 0 ? “ : ”}`;
} catch (error) {
button.innerHTML = originalHtml;
setNotice(widget, error.message || ‘Unable to update like.’, ‘error’);
} finally {
button.disabled = false;
}
}

if (composerForm) {
composerForm.addEventListener(‘submit’, function (e) {
e.preventDefault();
submitTopLevelComment(composerForm);
});
}

if (sortSelect) {
sortSelect.addEventListener(‘change’, function () {
state.sort = this.value || ‘newest’;
loadComments(true);
});
}

if (loadMoreBtn) {
loadMoreBtn.addEventListener(‘click’, function () {
if (state.busy || !state.hasMore) return;
state.page += 1;
loadComments(false);
});
}

widget.addEventListener(‘click’, function (e) {
const likeBtn = e.target.closest(‘[data-action=”toggle-like”]’);
if (likeBtn) {
e.preventDefault();
toggleLike(likeBtn);
return;
}

const replyBtn = e.target.closest(‘[data-action=”toggle-reply”]’);
if (replyBtn) {
e.preventDefault();
openReplyBox(widget, Number(replyBtn.dataset.commentId || 0));
return;
}

const cancelReplyBtn = e.target.closest(‘[data-action=”cancel-reply”]’);
if (cancelReplyBtn) {
e.preventDefault();
closeReplyBox(cancelReplyBtn.closest(‘[data-role=”reply-box”]’));
}
});

widget.addEventListener(‘submit’, function (e) {
const replyForm = e.target.closest(‘.ev-comments__reply-form’);
if (replyForm) {
e.preventDefault();
submitReply(replyForm);
}
});

loadComments(true);
}

document.addEventListener(‘DOMContentLoaded’, function () {
document.querySelectorAll(‘.ev-comments’).forEach(initCommentsWidget);
});
})();

Why Health Ministry is shifting hospitals from SHA portal to new system- Duale

Senate unanimously confirms Henry Wooster as US ambassador to Kenya

DRC Ebola toll likely higher than reported as insecurity hampers response – MSF

Kenyans split on country’s direction as health, cost of living top concerns

MSF staff member tests positive for Ebola in DRC, evacuated to Netherlands

Yellow fever certificate no longer mandatory for travellers entering Uganda

Government to spend Sh6.4 billion to expand NYS training capacity

Algeria MPs approve death penalty for people who deliberately start fires

Lumakanda OCS denied bail in alleged defilement of 14-year-old girl

‘My dear friend’ – President Ruto mourns Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo