CHICAGO — Researchers from the Dasman Diabetes Institute presented findings at ENDO 2026, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Chicago, indicating that mice on a sucrose-free, low-fat diet developed insulin resistance, gut microbiome imbalances, inflammation, and signs of fatty liver disease. These effects were observed despite the mice maintaining stable body weights.

The study spanned 16 weeks and compared mice fed a low-fat diet without sucrose to a control group that received a low-fat diet containing sucrose. Researchers measured glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, circulating metabolic hormones, the gut microbiome, and levels of inflammation in the colon and liver.

Mice on the sucrose-free diet exhibited poorer glucose control and insulin resistance compared with the control group. The sucrose-free group also showed imbalances in gut microbes, intestinal inflammation, and developments associated with fatty liver disease.

Rasheed Ahmad, principal scientist and head of the Immunology & Microbiology Department at the Dasman Diabetes Institute, said, "Completely removing sucrose from a low-fat diet may unexpectedly disrupt gut health and promote inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, highlighting that balanced nutrition is more important than simply eliminating sugar." Ahmad added, "The findings suggest that complete removal of sucrose from a low-fat diet may negatively affect gut microbiota and metabolic health." He stated, "The study highlights the importance of maintaining balanced dietary carbohydrates to support gut and immune homeostasis." Ahmad noted, "This research may influence future dietary recommendations by emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy gut microbiome rather than focusing only on sugar restriction." He concluded, "In the long term, these findings could help improve strategies for preventing and managing metabolic disorders, fatty liver disease and chronic inflammatory conditions."

Faisal Hamed Al-Refaei, Acting Director General of the institute, said, "Studies such as this reflect our institute's commitment to advancing evidence-based scientific discoveries that improve public health outcomes and deepen our understanding of metabolic disease." The Dasman Diabetes Institute was founded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences.