Although cutting sugar or carbohydrates from the diet is generally considered healthy, a new study suggests that completely cutting out sugar may not always be beneficial — and in some cases may have a negative effect on metabolic health. The findings were presented at the ‘ENDO 2026’ medical conference held in Chicago, in the United States.
The study was conducted mainly on animals, analysing the effects of completely removing sucrose, or ordinary table sugar. Researchers carried out the study on mice over 16 weeks. For this, the mice were divided into two groups. The first group was given a low-fat diet that included sugar (sucrose), while the second group was given an almost identical low-fat diet but with no sugar. Over the entire 16 weeks, the body weight of the mice in both groups remained roughly the same. The trouble appeared elsewhere: the mice that ate the completely sugar-free diet developed several unexpected health problems.
According to the researchers, the mice deprived of sugar showed a reduced ability to control blood sugar levels and signs of insulin resistance, or reduced insulin function. This metabolic dysfunction suggests that completely removing sugar from the diet may cause the body to lose its ability to process and efficiently manage its energy.
Decline in gut health
Scientists said the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut of the sugar-deprived mice was severely disrupted, alongside signs of increased inflammation in their gut. According to the researchers, gut bacteria play a very important role in regulating the body’s overall metabolism and controlling inflammation. As a result, there may be a direct link between cutting out sugar entirely and a breakdown in gut health.
Harmful changes in the liver too
Alongside the metabolic and digestive problems, changes were also detected in the livers of the mice on the sugar-free diet. The researchers said these changes are generally associated with fatty liver disease, or the build-up of fat in the liver. This raises fresh questions about the long-term effects of completely removing a specific component from the diet.
A balanced diet is needed
The lead researcher noted that the findings mainly highlight the importance of balance in healthy eating habits. According to the research team, it is not right to assume that the body will become healthy simply by completely removing a single component from one’s life; rather, it may give the body’s metabolic system an opposite and unexpected shock. Completely cutting out sucrose disrupts the structure of beneficial gut bacteria, which is essential for overall metabolic health.
However, experts cautioned that, because the study was carried out on animals (mice), its findings cannot yet be applied directly to humans. More detailed clinical trials or studies on the human body are needed to confirm whether those who completely avoid sugar experience the same effects. Experts advise that future diet charts or dietary guidelines should focus not only on cutting out sugar but on overall nutritional balance, healthy carbohydrate intake and protecting gut health. Eating excess sugar is certainly harmful to health, but completely cutting it out in all situations may not be the best strategy; rather, moderation and a balanced diet can ensure good health in the long run.
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