Sugar exposure in early life linked to anxiety in adulthood
Exposure to sugar in the first 1,000 days of a child's life increases the risk of developing anxiety in adulthood, according to a new study from the University of Surrey published in Translational Psychiatry. Scientists also found that sugar intake early in life can affect brain development, with significant differences identified in 11 of the brain's 80 regions.
New research reveals that exposure to sugar during a child's first 1,000 days of life may increase the risk of developing anxiety in adulthood. Scientists from the University of Surrey found that sugar intake early in life can affect brain development, with notable differences observed in 11 out of 80 brain regions. The study, published in Translational Psychiatry, analyzed medical data from over 45,000 UK Biobank participants born between 1951 and 1956, a period when postwar sugar rationing was in effect.
The researchers divided participants into groups based on their sugar exposure during gestation and up to 24 months of age, as well as a control group born outside of rationing periods. Women who were not exposed to sugar rationing or experienced it briefly were more likely to develop anxiety. Additionally, those who experienced the longest sugar rationing showed a lower preference for sweet foods in adulthood.
The study's lead author, Dr. Hana Navratilova, noted that the findings suggest early nutritional environments have a lasting impact on mental health.
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