Association between intake of various sugar subtypes and common mental disorders: A large prospective study
Objective: Sugar is an essential part of the daily diet but poses multiple health risks. Previous studies have neglected the association between specific sugar subtypes and mental health. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the associations between ten subtypes of sugar and three mental diso...
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Elsevier
2025-10-01
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| Series: | The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770725001721 |
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| author | Lina Qin Boyue Zhao Meijuan Kang Tingting Mao Weixuan Da Yue Che Hanchi Wang Yijia Li Jin Feng Yifan Gou Li Liu Huan Liu Bolun Cheng Yumeng Jia Yan Wen Feng Zhang |
| author_facet | Lina Qin Boyue Zhao Meijuan Kang Tingting Mao Weixuan Da Yue Che Hanchi Wang Yijia Li Jin Feng Yifan Gou Li Liu Huan Liu Bolun Cheng Yumeng Jia Yan Wen Feng Zhang |
| author_sort | Lina Qin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: Sugar is an essential part of the daily diet but poses multiple health risks. Previous studies have neglected the association between specific sugar subtypes and mental health. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the associations between ten subtypes of sugar and three mental disorders: depression, anxiety, and self-harm. Design, setting, and participants: This cohort study analyzed 169,776 participants from the UK Biobank (recruited from 2006 to 2010), who completed at least one dietary questionnaire collection through the Oxford WebQ. Data analysis was conducted from November 2024 to March 2025. Exposures: Sugar intake was calculated based on the Oxford WebQ data. Main outcomes and measures: Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the hazard ratios (HR) of sugar intake on depression, anxiety, and self-harm, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regressions were conducted to evaluate the significance of dose-response relationships and nonlinear associations. Results: A total of 6,637 cases of depression, 6,160 cases of anxiety, and 374 cases of self-harm were identified, with a median follow-up time of 10.54 years. Compared to low intake, high intake of total sugars, free sugar, lactose, non-milk extrinsic sugars, and sucrose was associated with an increased risk of depression (HR = 1.26, 95% CI [1.18–1.33], 1.23 [1.16–1.30], 1.15 [1.08–1.22], 1.24 [1.17–1.32], and 1.33 [1.25–1.41]), anxiety (1.20 [1.13–1.28], 1.22 [1.14–1.29], 1.16 [1.09–1.23], 1.23 [1.15–1.31], and 1.28 [1.21–1.37]), and self-harm (1.37 [1.08–1.75], 1.35 [1.06–1.72], 1.64 [1.27–2.11], 1.45 [1.14–1.84], and 1.37 [1.08–1.75]). In contrast, moderate glucose intake was associated with a reduced risk of depression and anxiety (0.93 [0.88−0.99], and 0.92 [0.86−0.98]). These associations were more pronounced in individuals with obesity. The dose-response relationship curves between sugar subtypes and mental disorders generally followed a U-shaped or J-shaped pattern, emphasizing the crucial role of specific sugar subtypes and intake ranges in influencing disease risk. Conclusions and relevance: Excessive sugar consumption elevates the risks of depression, anxiety, and self-harm, whereas moderate intake demonstrates protective effects, particularly in obese populations. These U/J-shaped dose-response relationships inform our proposed sugar intake guidelines for mental health management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cb42d210a8fd44f8bba046e3a23e993f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1760-4788 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging |
| spelling | doaj-art-cb42d210a8fd44f8bba046e3a23e993f2025-08-20T04:01:00ZengElsevierThe Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging1760-47882025-10-01291010064710.1016/j.jnha.2025.100647Association between intake of various sugar subtypes and common mental disorders: A large prospective studyLina Qin0Boyue Zhao1Meijuan Kang2Tingting Mao3Weixuan Da4Yue Che5Hanchi Wang6Yijia Li7Jin Feng8Yifan Gou9Li Liu10Huan Liu11Bolun Cheng12Yumeng Jia13Yan Wen14Feng Zhang15Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaCorresponding author.; Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Endemic Diseases, National Health and Family Planning Commission, School of Public Health, Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, 710061, P.R. ChinaObjective: Sugar is an essential part of the daily diet but poses multiple health risks. Previous studies have neglected the association between specific sugar subtypes and mental health. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the associations between ten subtypes of sugar and three mental disorders: depression, anxiety, and self-harm. Design, setting, and participants: This cohort study analyzed 169,776 participants from the UK Biobank (recruited from 2006 to 2010), who completed at least one dietary questionnaire collection through the Oxford WebQ. Data analysis was conducted from November 2024 to March 2025. Exposures: Sugar intake was calculated based on the Oxford WebQ data. Main outcomes and measures: Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the hazard ratios (HR) of sugar intake on depression, anxiety, and self-harm, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regressions were conducted to evaluate the significance of dose-response relationships and nonlinear associations. Results: A total of 6,637 cases of depression, 6,160 cases of anxiety, and 374 cases of self-harm were identified, with a median follow-up time of 10.54 years. Compared to low intake, high intake of total sugars, free sugar, lactose, non-milk extrinsic sugars, and sucrose was associated with an increased risk of depression (HR = 1.26, 95% CI [1.18–1.33], 1.23 [1.16–1.30], 1.15 [1.08–1.22], 1.24 [1.17–1.32], and 1.33 [1.25–1.41]), anxiety (1.20 [1.13–1.28], 1.22 [1.14–1.29], 1.16 [1.09–1.23], 1.23 [1.15–1.31], and 1.28 [1.21–1.37]), and self-harm (1.37 [1.08–1.75], 1.35 [1.06–1.72], 1.64 [1.27–2.11], 1.45 [1.14–1.84], and 1.37 [1.08–1.75]). In contrast, moderate glucose intake was associated with a reduced risk of depression and anxiety (0.93 [0.88−0.99], and 0.92 [0.86−0.98]). These associations were more pronounced in individuals with obesity. The dose-response relationship curves between sugar subtypes and mental disorders generally followed a U-shaped or J-shaped pattern, emphasizing the crucial role of specific sugar subtypes and intake ranges in influencing disease risk. Conclusions and relevance: Excessive sugar consumption elevates the risks of depression, anxiety, and self-harm, whereas moderate intake demonstrates protective effects, particularly in obese populations. These U/J-shaped dose-response relationships inform our proposed sugar intake guidelines for mental health management.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770725001721Sugar subtypesMental disordersProspective cohort |
| spellingShingle | Lina Qin Boyue Zhao Meijuan Kang Tingting Mao Weixuan Da Yue Che Hanchi Wang Yijia Li Jin Feng Yifan Gou Li Liu Huan Liu Bolun Cheng Yumeng Jia Yan Wen Feng Zhang Association between intake of various sugar subtypes and common mental disorders: A large prospective study The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging Sugar subtypes Mental disorders Prospective cohort |
| title | Association between intake of various sugar subtypes and common mental disorders: A large prospective study |
| title_full | Association between intake of various sugar subtypes and common mental disorders: A large prospective study |
| title_fullStr | Association between intake of various sugar subtypes and common mental disorders: A large prospective study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between intake of various sugar subtypes and common mental disorders: A large prospective study |
| title_short | Association between intake of various sugar subtypes and common mental disorders: A large prospective study |
| title_sort | association between intake of various sugar subtypes and common mental disorders a large prospective study |
| topic | Sugar subtypes Mental disorders Prospective cohort |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770725001721 |
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