Association between intake of various sugar subtypes and common mental disorders: A large prospective study

This cohort study systematically evaluates the associations between ten subtypes of sugar and three mental disorders: Depression, anxiety, and self-harm, utilizing data from 169,776 participants in the UK Biobank. The analysis revealed that high intake of total sugars, free sugar, lactose, non-milk extrinsic sugars, and sucrose significantly increased the risk of depression (HR = 1.26 to 1.33), anxiety (HR = 1.20 to 1.28), and self-harm (HR = 1.37 to 1.64). In contrast, moderate glucose intake was associated with a decreased risk of depression (HR = 0.93) and anxiety (HR = 0.92). Notably, these associations were more pronounced in individuals with obesity. The study’s findings indicate that the dose-response relationship between sugar subtypes and mental disorders generally follows a U-shaped or J-shaped pattern, underscoring the importance of specific sugar subtypes and intake levels in influencing mental health outcomes. The research advocates for revised sugar intake guidelines to better manage mental health risks.

Year: 2025

Reference: Qin, L., Zhao, B., Kang, M., Mao, T., Da, W., Che, Y., Wang, H., Li, Y., Feng, J., Gou, Y., Liu, L., Liu, H., Cheng, B., Jia, Y., Wen, Y., & Zhang, F. (2025). Association between intake of various sugar subtypes and common mental disorders: A large prospective study. The journal of nutrition, health & aging, 29(10), 100647. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnha.2025.100647

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