Childhood sugar intake may impact mental health later, UK study finds

A British scientific study has identified a possible link between the amount of sugar consumed during the first 1,000 days of life and mental health in later years.

Researchers from the University of Surrey analyzed health data from over 46,000 people born in Britain during the post-World War II sugar rationing period, when the government restricted individual sugar allowances.

The study, published in the journal Translational Psychiatry, found that limited sugar exposure from pregnancy through a child's second birthday was associated with a lower risk of anxiety disorders in adulthood.

Conversely, the results indicated that women who consumed high amounts of sugar in early childhood faced a greater risk of developing anxiety disorders later in life.

To further examine the relationship between sugar intake and brain changes, the researchers conducted MRI scans on around 6,000 participants. The findings revealed differences in the volume of grey matter in the brain depending on each individual's sugar consumption.

The researchers also observed significant differences in 11 brain regions, including the cerebellum, which plays a key role in mental health.

The study concluded that early-life diet may have a lasting impact on mental health in later stages of life.