Eating sugar while taking antibiotics might harm gut bacteria | CNN

Sugar-laden foods taken alongside antibiotic treatment may disrupt the gut microbiome in a way that increases vulnerability to dangerous infections, according to a study published Wednesday in Nature. Researchers examined a “natural experiment” in cancer patients hospitalized for stem cell transplants who received sustained antibiotics before the procedure. Because patients ate only hospital-prepared meals, investigators knew exactly what and how much they consumed—an unusual level of control. The study links diet-driven microbiome diversity to immune protection. Led by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, and City of Hope, the work found that more sugary foods, especially added sugars, appeared to synergize with antibiotics to damage gut flora.