Can Sugar Relieve Pain? The Truth About Sweet Taste and Analgesia

October 11, 2025 •

2 min read

Studies show that a simple sucrose solution can significantly reduce procedural pain and distress in newborn infants. But for adults and chronic conditions, the question "can sugar relieve pain?" has a far more complex and often contradictory answer that hinges on different biological mechanisms and circumstances.

Quick Summary

The analgesic effects of sugar vary by age and pain type. Small, oral doses of sucrose provide short-term relief in infants. For adults, evidence is mixed, and high sugar diets may actually increase chronic pain through inflammation.

Key Points

Sucrose is Effective for Infants: Small, oral doses of sucrose are a medically proven method to reduce pain and distress during minor procedures in babies.
Hedonic Value Matters for Adults: Any temporary pain modulation from sweet substances in adults appears linked to the reward or pleasure (hedonic) value, not a straightforward analgesic effect.
Excess Sugar Worsens Chronic Pain: High consumption of refined sugar fuels chronic inflammation throughout the body, which is a major contributor to and exacerbates long-term pain conditions.
The Placebo Effect is Real: In chronic pain patients, a sugar placebo pill can relieve pain, demonstrating the powerful role of psychological factors and brain-body connection in pain perception.
Choose Healthier Alternatives: Effective natural pain relief strategies for adults include anti-inflammatory diets, regular exercise, mind-body techniques, and topical remedies like heat/cold therapy.
Age and Pain Mechanism Differ: The way sweet taste affects infants involves endogenous opioid release, a mechanism that does not reliably produce the same analgesic effect in adults.

Infant Pain Relief: The Science of Sucrose Analgesia

Oral sucrose is a well-established method for reducing pain in newborns undergoing minor procedures. Sweet taste activates the infant's endogenous opioid system, releasing endorphins which reduce pain and cause a calming effect. This effect is short-lived and most useful for brief procedures.

Adult Pain Perception: A Complicated Connection

The relationship between sugar and pain in adults is less clear. While sweet taste may offer some emotional comfort, a simple sucrose solution doesn't typically provide strong pain relief in adults. Studies on sweet taste and adult pain have shown mixed results, sometimes suggesting an influence on pain tolerance rather than the initial pain threshold. The placebo effect is also relevant; a sugar pill can relieve pain in some chronic pain patients due to psychological factors and brain responses, not the sugar itself. Sweet foods can impact mood and stress, potentially leading to emotional eating in those with chronic pain.

Chronic Pain and Sugar: A Detrimental Relationship

Despite potential temporary effects in adults, diets high in sugar are strongly linked to worsening chronic pain, mainly through inflammation.

The Inflammatory Cascade

High consumption of refined sugars increases pro-inflammatory molecules.
Chronic inflammation can make pain receptors more sensitive, intensifying conditions like arthritis.
Excess sugar intake contributes to insulin resistance and weight gain, adding to inflammation and joint stress.

Alternative Approaches to Natural Pain Relief

Given the negative effects of high sugar intake on chronic pain, safer alternatives are recommended:

Dietary Changes: An anti-inflammatory diet with fruits, vegetables, omega-3s, turmeric, and ginger can reduce inflammation.
Exercise: Physical activity releases natural painkillers and anti-inflammatory chemicals.
Mind-Body Techniques: Practices like meditation and CBT help manage the psychological aspects of pain.
Topical Therapies: Heat, cold, capsaicin, and arnica creams can provide localized relief.

Comparison: Sugar for Pain Relief in Infants vs. Adults


Feature	Infant Response (Short-Term)	Adult Response (Acute/Chronic)
Mechanism	Orally mediated endogenous opioid release.	Potential hedonic or placebo effect; mechanism is complex and variable.
Efficacy	Safe and effective for single, minor procedures.	Inconsistent and less pronounced; more likely to influence tolerance than threshold.
Duration	Short-lasting analgesic effect (minutes).	Variable; chronic high intake is detrimental.
Risk Profile	Considered safe when used in small, monitored doses for procedural pain.	High intake promotes systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, and worsens chronic pain.

Conclusion: A Double-Edged Sword for Pain Management

While small, controlled doses of oral sucrose provide a safe and effective method for managing procedural pain in infants, the relationship between sugar and pain in adults is different. A pleasant, sweet taste may offer minimal, temporary emotional or placebo effects on pain in adults, but a diet high in added sugars can actively worsen chronic pain conditions through inflammation. For lasting pain management, especially for chronic issues, a holistic approach focusing on diet, exercise, and mental well-being is more beneficial than relying on sugar. Consult a healthcare professional for the best treatment plan.

For more information on non-pharmacological pain management strategies endorsed by health authorities, see the CDC's resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

In infants, a sweet sucrose solution stimulates the release of natural opioids, or endorphins, from the body. These chemicals act as mild, short-term painkillers that help reduce pain and calm the infant during minor procedures like immunizations.

For adults, using sugar for pain relief is not a reliable method. While a pleasant, sweet taste may offer a temporary comfort effect, it does not provide the same analgesic benefit as in infants, and any effect may be related to expectation or placebo.

Yes, diets high in refined sugars can significantly worsen chronic pain. This is because sugar promotes chronic, low-grade inflammation throughout the body, which exacerbates pain sensitivity and contributes to conditions like arthritis.

Sucrose analgesia is the term for the medically recognized effect where a small amount of sucrose (table sugar) solution given orally reduces pain and distress in newborn infants during minor procedures.

When administered by medical professionals in small, specific doses for procedural pain, oral sucrose is considered safe for infants. It should not be used casually to calm a baby and is not a long-term solution.

Safe alternatives for pain relief include anti-inflammatory foods (like turmeric, ginger), regular exercise, mind-body practices (like meditation, yoga), massage therapy, and topical treatments like heat and cold packs.

Chronic inflammation from high sugar intake can damage healthy tissue and sensitize nerves. This increases the body's overall pain perception, making existing conditions feel more severe and potentially contributing to new pain.

In some chronic pain studies, a sugar pill has been shown to relieve pain. This effect is a complex placebo response related to a patient's neurobiology and expectations, not the sugar itself acting as a painkiller.