Glucose levels are associated with mood, but the association is mediated by ratings of metabolic state.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hunger is commonly linked to negative mood, and mood shifts are believed to arise from sensing the body's internal state. However, it remains unclear whether this link is driven by subconscious effects of circulating glucose levels or by consciously sensed metabolic states. Here, we test whether glucose levels directly influence mood or indirectly via subjective ratings of metabolic state.

Methods

In this observational cohort study, 90 healthy adults (female = 46; male = 44) were continuously monitored throughout the day using interstitial glucose sensors for four weeks while completing ecological momentary assessments up to twice per day (EMA; M = 48 assessments per participant) to rate mood and perceived metabolic states.

Findings

As expected, hungry part

SUBMITTER: Kaduk K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12905624 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature