2005/01/01 by Konstantinos Mantantzis, Friederike Schlaghecken, Sandra I. Sünram‐Lea +2 · 1 citation
Environmental Science · Medicine · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Diet and metabolism studies #Diet, Metabolism, and Disease #Eating Disorders and Behaviors #Employment, Labor, and Gender Studies #Finance, Taxation, and Governance #Social Sciences and Policies
paper · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.03.016
openalex publication_date 2005/01/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/23
The effect of carbohydrate (CHO) consumption on mood is much debated, with researchers reporting both mood improvements and decrements following CHO ingestion. As global consumption of sugar-sweetened products has sharply increased in recent years, examining the validity of claims of an association between CHOs and mood is of high importance. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between acute CHO ingestion and mood. We examined the time-course of CHO-mood interactions and considered the role of moderator variables potentially affecting the CHO-mood relationship. Analysis of 176 effect sizes (31 studies, 1259 participants) revealed no positive effect of CHOs on any aspect of mood at any time-point following their consumption. However, CHO administration was associated with higher levels of fatigue and less alertness compared with placebo within the first hour post-ingestion. These findings challenge the idea that CHOs can improve mood, and might be used to increase the public's awareness that the 'sugar rush' is a myth, inform health policies to decrease sugar consumption, and promote healthier alternatives.