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High sugar intake linked with poorer long-term mental health听
27 July 2017
Men with high sugar intakes have an increased likelihood听of common mental disorders (such as anxiety and depression)听after 5 years compared to those with low intakes,听according to 果冻影院 research.
The study听also showed that having
a mood听disorder did not make people more inclined to eat foods with a
high sugar content.听
The听report,听published today in听Scientific Reports听used data from the Whitehall II cohort and analysed the听sugar intake from sweet food and beverages and occurrence of听common mental disorders in over 5000 men and over 2000 women听for a period of 22 years between 1983 and 2013.听
Although previous studies have found an increased risk of depression with higher consumption of added sugars, none examined the role of 'reverse causation'.听If people with anxiety and/or depression听tended to听consume听more听sugary foods听and drinks, this could听be the听real听reason why听a link between听sugar intake and听poorer mental health听is observed.听Although听the听study听looked for this听link,听it was not seen in the data:听men and women with mental disorders听were not听more likely to consume more sugar.听As a result, the evidence that听mental health听is adversely听affected听by a high听sugar intake is听strengthened.
The study categorised听daily听sugar听intake (in grams) from sweet food and beverages听into three similar sized groups. Men in the top third, who consumed more than 67g,听had听a 23% increased chance of incident common mental disorders after five years,听(independent of health behaviours, socio-demographic and diet-related factors, adiposity and other diseases)听compared to those in the bottom听third,听who consumed less than 39.5 g.听According听to the听National Diet and Nutrition Survey听published in 2013听men in the听UK consume an average听68.4 grams of added sugar per day听(75 per cent from sweet foods and beverages).
Men听and women with mood disorders听and high sugar consumption听also听had an increased chance of being depressed again after 5 years compared to those with lower intakes, but this finding was not independent听of听other socio-demographic, health and diet-related factors.
Anika Kn眉ppel (果冻影院听Institute of听Epidemiology and Public Health),听lead author of the paper said:听"High sugar diets have a number of influences on our health but our study shows that there might also be a link between sugar and mood disorders, particularly among men.听There are numerous听factors that influence听chances for mood disorders, but听having a diet high in sugary foods and drinks might听be听the straw that听breaks听the camel's back. The study found听no听link听between sugar intake and听new听mood听disorders听in听women and it is unclear why. More research is needed to听test the sugar-depression effect in听large population听samples.
"There is increasing evidence for the physical damage sugar has on our health. Our work suggests an additional mental health effect.听This further supports the evidence for policy action such as the new听sugar levy in the UK,听but听this is not addressed in many other European countries."
In Britain, adults consume approximately double, and in the U.S. triple, the recommended level of added sugar, with sweet foods and drinks contributing听three-quarters of the intakes. Meanwhile, major depression is predicted to become the leading cause of disability in听high income countries by 2030.*听
Kn眉ppel added: "Sweet food has听been听found听to induce听positive feelings听in the听short-term.听People experiencing low mood听may eat听sugary foods听in the hope of alleviating negative feelings.听Our study听suggests听a high intake of sugary foods is more likely to have the opposite effect on mental health听in the long-term."
Professor Eric Brunner听(果冻影院听Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health), senior author of the paper,听concluded:听"Our findings provide yet further evidence that sugary foods and drinks are best avoided. The听new听sugar听tax听on soft drinks,听which will听take effect听in April 2018,听is a step in the right direction. The physical and mental health of British people deserves some protection from the commercial forces听which exploit the human 'sweet tooth'".
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Source: 'Cupcakes' by Jon听
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Email: rowan.walker [at] ucl.ac.uk