A new study in mice has found that switching from a high sugar and butter diet to a regular one may lead to a surprising outcome—an increased craving for alcohol.
The research, published in the journal Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, offers fresh insights into how gut bacteria may influence alcohol use disorder (AUD), a serious condition that affects millions of people.
Scientists in Brazil and France led this research to better understand how changes in diet and gut health could impact behavior.
The gut is home to trillions of bacteria that help us digest food, support our immune system, and even affect how our brain works.
This connection between the gut and brain is called the “gut-brain axis.” When the balance of gut bacteria is disturbed, it can have ripple effects throughout the body—including the brain.
In the study, the researchers fed some mice a high sugar and butter diet, which is known to disrupt healthy gut bacteria.
After a period of time, the mice were switched to a standard, healthier diet. That’s when things changed: these mice developed a strong preference for alcohol over water.
Interestingly, mice that stayed on either the unhealthy or healthy diet the whole time did not show this preference. This suggests that the sudden withdrawal of the high-sugar, high-fat diet may have triggered addiction-like behavior in the brain’s reward system.
Further tests revealed that the alcohol-seeking mice had different gut bacteria than the others. These changes in their gut microbiome led to unusual levels of certain substances called metabolites, which are produced when bacteria break down food. These metabolites influence how the brain processes rewards like food—or alcohol.
One key finding was a drop in the metabolism of amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins and play an important role in brain function. The mice also had lower levels of short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate.
Butyrate is important for controlling inflammation and appetite, and it may also help reduce cravings for alcohol. When its levels dropped, the mice seemed more prone to drinking compulsively.
Another type of gut bacteria, previously linked to metabolic problems and addictive behavior, was found in higher amounts in the alcohol-craving mice. Researchers also saw an increase in the production of certain bile acids, which could lead to more inflammation and damage to the gut lining—two things often seen in people with AUD.
In addition, there were signs of changes in the way the brain processed dopamine, a chemical that plays a major role in pleasure and addiction. These changes could make the brain more likely to seek out alcohol.
Overall, the study highlights how deeply connected our gut and brain really are. It shows that what we eat—and how our gut bacteria respond—can influence our risk for addiction. The researchers believe that targeting the gut microbiome could offer new ways to treat or prevent alcohol use disorder in the future.
This study adds to a growing body of evidence that diet and gut health are key players in mental health and addiction. Understanding this relationship could help scientists develop better treatments for people struggling with alcohol dependence.
If you care about gut health, please read studies about how high blood pressure medicine might affect your gut and origin of Parkinson’s disease is in the gut.
If you care about gut health, please read studies that your gut can help lower your blood pressure: here’s how and from shock to awe: a zap in the gut could be the new insulin for people with diabetes.
The study is published in Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
