A high-sugar diet may worsen asthma, even in the short term

A recent study published in the journal Nutrients suggests that a high-sugar diet may exacerbate asthma in the short term, even in people without existing asthma. Conducted in Brazil, the research involved mice that were given their regular diet along with free access to condensed milk. Within just two weeks, the mice experienced significant negative effects, highlighting the rapid impact of sugar on inflammatory conditions.

Professor Caroline Marcantonio Ferreira, who led the study, emphasizes that this finding reinforces the need for reducing sugar intake, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and individuals with chronic respiratory diseases. Asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting millions worldwide, involves changes in the respiratory system and an immune response leading to symptoms like difficulty breathing and wheezing.

The study's lead author, Mateus Casaro, notes that sugar is not just empty calories but an active inflammatory agent capable of altering the immune balance. The research suggests that sugar can worsen asthma-related inflammation by triggering systemic inflammation that begins in abdominal fat and travels to vital organs, intensifying the allergic response in the lungs.

While the study focused on asthma, Ferreira hints that sugar may exacerbate inflammation in other organs as well. The researchers stress that a high-sugar diet cannot cause asthma independently but can amplify existing inflammation.