According to a research in England, sugar being used to placate infants while taking blood samples or injecting shots, does not comfort the pain they endure.

Contradicting international clinical guidelines, researchers at the University College of London had conducted a study on fifty-nine babies. The babies were subjected to a standard procedure regarding collection of blood samples after being provided sucrose.

It was found that in the pain centers of the brain, nerve activity indicated pain was felt. The study also stated that sugar water given to babies reduced the chances of them making a face, which showed they were in pain.

In routine procedures in which the babies feel pain, they are administered sugar, so as to comfort them. The international clinical guidelines that recommend babies be fed sugar in order to ease the pain were issued after many clinical trials had been conducted, but after the study all the clinical trials seem to be contradicted.

The study had been funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC). An official with the council further stated that the discovery would lead to further inroads into baby care at hospitals. The study was led by Rebeccah Slater, University College of London.

Though, it still needs to be seen whether the study holds good, as it was conducted on a narrow activity of the brain.