Sugar intake worsens antibiotic damage to gut bacteria

Researchers tracking 173 hospitalized cancer patients found that consuming 100 grams of sugar in 48 hours before antibiotics caused an additional 21% reduction in microbiome diversity. Sugar combined with antibiotics allowed harmful Enterococcus faecium to flourish, increasing vulnerability to infection and potentially worsening patient outcomes.

Modifying diet during and after antibiotics, specifically by reducing sweets intake, could help limit unintended health risks.