Abstract
PurposeIt has been suggested that a high intake of sugar or sweeteners may result in an unfavorable microbiota composition; however, evidence is lacking. Hence, in this exploratory epidemiological study, we aim to examine if intake of added sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) or artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) associate with the gut microbiota composition.MethodsParticipants (18–70 years) in the Malmö Offspring Study have provided blood, urine, and fecal samples and completed both web-based 4 day food records and short food frequency questionnaires. The gut microbiota was assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing, processed in QIIME and matched to Greengenes (v.13.8), giving 64 included genera after filtering. Intake of added sugar (n = 1371) (also supported by the overnight urinary sugar biomarker in a subgroup n = 577), SSBs (n = 1086) and ASBs (n = 1085) were examined as exposures in negative binomial regressions.ResultsVarious genera nominally associated with intake of added sugar, SSBs, and ASBs. Only the negative association between SSB intake and Lachnobacterium remained significant after multiple testing correction. A positive association between SSB intake and the Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio was also observed.ConclusionIn this wide population, the cross-sectional associations between added sugar and sweet beverage intake and the gut microbiota are modest, but the results suggest that SSB intake is associated negatively with the genus Lachnobacterium and positively with the Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio. Larger studies, preferably using metagenomic sequencing, are needed to further evaluate if a link exists between intake of sugars and sweeteners and the human gut microbiota.
Highlights
In addition to added sugar consumption, both consumption of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages have been associated with increased mortality [1, 2], as well as obesity and cardiometabolic disease [3, 4]
High consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) was predominated by men, while high consumption of added sugar and artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs) tended to be predominated by women
High consumption of added sugar and SSBs were related to higher energy intake and E% of carbohydrates, but lower E% of fat and protein, while intake of ASBs did not relate to energy intake nor macronutrient distribution
Summary
In addition to added sugar consumption, both consumption of sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened beverages have been associated with increased mortality [1, 2], as well as obesity and cardiometabolic disease [3, 4]. An increased amount of fructose reaches the colon, which is suggested to contribute to a gut microbiota composition that associates with obesity and metabolic disease [6]. A recent study has observed how sugar intake can suppress the BT3172 gene, a colonization factor for Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, inhibiting colonization of this bacteria in the gut of mice [13]. This poses an additional potential mechanism for how a high sugar intake might affect the gut microbiota. Another potential link could be induced by lack of e.g. fibers [14] and flavonoids [15], as often is seen in a typical high sugar diet [16]
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