New Delhi: A team of researchers in the United States has uncovered how gut microbes influence the risk of developing diabetes following the consumption of sugary beverages. Their study, published in Cell Metabolism, highlights how metabolites produced by gut bacteria may play a significant role in this process.
The researchers analyzed data from over 16,000 participants and identified notable differences in gut microbiota and blood metabolites among individuals who regularly consumed sugar-sweetened beverages. High intake—defined as two or more sugary drinks per day—was linked to alterations in nine bacterial species.
Interestingly, four of these bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids, molecules that help regulate glucose metabolism. While these fatty acids typically benefit metabolic health, the observed changes in gut bacteria led to an altered metabolite profile that was linked to an increased risk of developing diabetes over the next decade.
Lead researcher Qibin Qi, an epidemiologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, explained that their findings suggest a potential mechanism behind how sugary drinks harm metabolism. "Although our study is observational, it provides insights that could guide diabetes prevention and management strategies using the gut microbiome," Qi stated.
One key factor noted in the study is that sugar in beverages may be more easily absorbed compared to solid foods, leading to a rapid spike in energy intake and metabolic disruptions. The analysis also revealed associations between sugary drink consumption and 56 serum metabolites, including several produced by gut microbiota or their derivatives.
These metabolites were linked to unfavorable metabolic traits such as increased fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, higher body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratios, and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol—commonly referred to as "good" cholesterol.
Qi emphasized that these microbiota-related metabolites could serve as early indicators of diabetes risk. "In other words, these metabolites may predict future diabetes," he concluded.
The findings underscore the potential impact of diet on gut microbiota and its subsequent role in metabolic diseases, reinforcing public health recommendations to limit the intake of sugary beverages.