High sugar intake linked with poorer long-term mental healthÂ
Men with high sugar intakes from sweet food and beverages have an increased likelihood of common mental disorders (such as anxiety and depression) after 5 years compared to those with low intake, according to UCL research. The study also showed that having a mood disorder did not make people more inclined to eat foods with a high sugar content. The report, published today in Scientific Reports used data from the Whitehall II cohort and analysed the sugar intake and occurrence of common mental disorders in over 5000 men and over 2000 women for a period of 22 years between 1983 and 2013.Although previous studies have found an increased risk of depression with higher consumption of added sugars, none examined the role of 'reverse causation'. If people with anxiety and/or depression tended to consume more sugary foods and drinks, this could be the real reason why a link between sugar intake and poorer mental health is observed. Although the study looked for this link, it was not seen in the data: men and women with mental disorders were not more likely to consume more sugar. As a result, the evidence that mental health is adversely affected by a high sugar intake is strengthened. The study categorised daily sugar intake (in grams) from sweet food and beverages into three similar sized groups.
