A study of post-war UK data suggests that limited sugar intake during the first 1,000 days of life may reduce the risk of developing anxiety in adulthood.
Key facts
- •The study analyzed data from over 45,000 people born between 1951 and 1956.
- •UK sugar rationing policies lasted from 1940 until 1953, limiting adults to roughly 40 grams per day.
- •Individuals exposed to the longest periods of rationing had a 33% lower risk of anxiety.
- •The median age of anxiety onset was 62 for rationed groups versus 55 for those never rationed.
- •Researchers suggest early nutrition impacts the density and availability of serotonin neurons.
Researchers from the University of Surrey found that individuals exposed to sugar rationing during their first 1,000 days of life experienced lower rates of anxiety later in life. The study, published in Translational Psychiatry, analyzed medical data from over 45,000 people born in the United Kingdom between 1951 and 1956, a period that included the end of post-war sugar restrictions.
By the numbers
Impact of early sugar restrictions
Participants who experienced the longest periods of sugar rationing reported a lower preference for sweet foods and a 33% lower risk of anxiety in adulthood compared to those who were never rationed. Additionally, the onset of anxiety and depression occurred later in life for the rationed groups, with a median onset age of 62 compared to 55 for the non-rationed group.
Biological and developmental factors
The study authors note that the first 1,000 days of life represent a critical window for brain development. They suggest that early nutritional environments can lead to lasting structural changes in the brain, potentially protecting serotonin neurons—which are essential for mood regulation—from the negative impacts of sugar-rich diets.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Euronews Health.
