Cutting all sugar may harm gut health, study suggests

The sugar paradox: when its absence harms the gut

A study by the Dasman Diabetes Institute in Kuwait, presented at the ENDO 2026 conference of the Endocrine Society in Chicago, has peine the debate on total sugar elimination. In a 16-week experiment with mice on a low-fat diet, researchers observed that the absence of sugar negatively affected the gut and metabolism. But skepticism is high: the study design —a low-fat diet, not low-carb— has been flagged as a confounding variable that could explain the results.

Serious study or biased narrative?

From the outset, the work has been met with distrust. Criticism focuses on two points: the subjects were mice, not humans, and the diet used was low in fat, not necessarily low in total carbohydrates. It has been argued that simultaneous restriction of fats and carbs can cause dysbiosis—an imbalance of the gut flora—as beneficial bacteria die from lack of substrate while harmful ones proliferate by fermenting excess protein. This phenomenon, described as "dysbiosis," would not be a direct consequence of sugar lack, but of an extreme combination practiced only by those trinc radical diets.

Sugars: not all are equal

The debate has highlighted a key distinction: it is not the same to eliminate added sugars (sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup) as to forgo natural sources like fruit or dairy. While excessive refined sugar is associated with insulin resistance and obesity, fructose from fruit and lactose from milk provide nutrients accompanied by fiber and proteins. Advocates of low-carb diets note that the body can obtain glucose via gluconeogenesis and function in ketosis, but admit that a zero-sugar diet—including natural sources—can alter the microbiome.

The ghost of industrial manipulation

The shadow of corporate interests looms over every new nutritional study. Past examples have been recalled, such as demonizing olive oil to promote seed oils, or eggs to sell statins. The Kuwaiti origin of the institute and the fact that the study was presented at an endocrinology conference—with no peer-reviewed publication yet known—fuel suspicions. Nevertheless, some defend that, regardless of potential biases, the finding has biological basis: gut bacteria need fermentable carbohydrates to survive.

The dilemma remains: cutting all sugar may be counterproductive, yet most people consume far more than needed. The real question is not whether to eliminate sweet things entirely, but what type of sugar and in what quantity. Until science reaches consensus—and economic interests stop pulling strings—the recommendation remains moderation.