Sugar Intake Could Alter Gut Recovery After Antibiotics
High sugar intake may reduce beneficial gut bacterial diversity in patients treated with antibiotics.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Nutrition
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High sugar intake is linked to reduced gut microbial diversity and increased growth of drug-resistant bacteria in patients taking antibiotics. Researchers tracked 9,000 meals from 173 hospitalized patients to reach these findings.
Why it matters
Understanding how diet influences the gut microbiome during antibiotic treatment may help clinicians optimize recovery for patients. This research suggests that dietary sugar may provide a resource for resilient bacteria to flourish when microbial balance is already compromised.
In an observational study of 173 hospitalized patients, researchers analyzed 9,000 meals alongside stool samples, finding a 24 percent reduction in microbial diversity for every 100 grams of sugar consumed during antibiotic use. These preliminary findings are supported by mouse model experiments.
The players
NYU Langone Health
An academic medical center that provided clinical research support for this investigation into the gut microbiome.
King's College London
A public research university contributing to the nutritional science analysis of the study.
The details
Antibiotics typically kill a broad spectrum of gut bacteria, leaving survivors to potentially overgrow and cause infections. The researchers found that simple sugars may act as a nutritional fuel for these resilient bacteria, such as Enterococcus, allowing them to gain dominance in the microbiome. This process appears to be accelerated by sugar-rich diets, which may prevent the gut from returning to a diverse and stable state during antibiotic therapy.
Timeline
Two days before sampling served as the primary window to measure sugar consumption.
Health Landscape
This study follows a pattern set by ongoing research at NYU Langone Health regarding how clinical environments and treatments alter microbial health. It adds to a growing body of evidence that external factors like diet play a critical role in the resilience of the gut during medical interventions.
If you are currently taking a course of antibiotics, consider discussing your dietary habits with your physician or a clinical dietitian. While this research focused on hospitalized patients, it underscores the importance of balanced nutrition during recovery, which is worth discussing with your doctor.
The takeaway
While these findings are preliminary, they highlight how sugar consumption might interfere with the recovery of healthy gut bacteria during antibiotic use. As a precaution, focus on nutrient-dense foods during treatment and consult your physician about dietary strategies that support your gut health.
Further reading
For more information on how food choices impact your well-being, visit our Nutrition section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bdnews24.
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Do you adjust your sugar intake when taking antibiotics to protect your gut health?
