A recent U.S. study reveals that sugary drinks, including sodas, disrupt the gut microbiota in adolescents, potentially impairing their memory and learning abilities.
It's well-established that a high-sugar diet contributes to numerous health issues, such as overweight, obesity, liver disorders, cardiovascular disease, and dental or skin problems. A collaborative study by U.S. universities, published in Translational Psychiatry on March 31, 2021, sheds new light on sodas and other sugary drinks.
The research found that excessive sugary drink consumption during adolescence diminishes learning and memory capabilities. Experiments on rodents, some fed high-sugar diets, showed specific bacteria—Parabacteroides—proliferating in the gut microbiota of those with elevated sugar intake.
Lead researchers noted that higher Parabacteroides levels correlated with poorer memory and learning performance in rodents. They highlighted the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for these functions, suggesting these bacteria negatively affect it and related structures, leading to cognitive decline.
This underscores the need for adolescents—like young children—to limit sugary drinks such as sodas, syrups, lemonades, and even fruit juices containing about 10 grams of sugar per 100 mL. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises no more than 50 grams of sugar daily.
A 2019 U.S. study similarly warned that heavy soda consumers face over a 20% increased risk of premature death, primarily from cardiovascular diseases. A 2018 study on diet sodas pointed to artificial sweeteners like aspartame and acesulfame potassium as potential contributors to type 2 diabetes.
