Abstract
The relationship between free sugars intake and cardiometabolic risk factors is unclear in Japanese adults. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate this association using data from the 2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey, Japan. The percentage of energy intake from free sugars was estimated based on the 1-day weighed dietary record data of Japanese men (n = 4071) and women (n = 5794) aged ≥ 20 years. Associations between free sugars intake and cardiometabolic risk factors, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), systolic and diastolic blood pressures, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level and levels of serum total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, were investigated using linear regression and Dunnett’s test, with the lowest category of quartiles as a reference. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, free sugars intake was inversely associated with blood pressures (men only) and HDL-cholesterol level (both sexes) and positively associated with total-cholesterol level (women only) and LDL-cholesterol level (both sexes), whereas no association was observed for BMI, WC, and HbA1c level. This study identified both positive and inverse associations of free sugars intake with cardiometabolic risk factors in Japanese adults.
Highlights
Cardiovascular diseases are major contributors to the global burden of disease and the leading causes of death among non-communicable diseases, resulting in 17.6 million deaths and 300 million years of life lost in 2016 [1]
The present results identified that higher free sugars intake is inversely associated with blood pressure in men and adversely associated with blood cholesterol levels in both sexes, independent of energy intake and body mass index (BMI)
There were differences in study populations and confounding factors considered between this study and studies included in the meta-analysis, the relatively low mean free sugars intake (
Summary
Cardiovascular diseases are major contributors to the global burden of disease and the leading causes of death among non-communicable diseases, resulting in 17.6 million deaths and 300 million years of life lost in 2016 [1] Due to this high disease burden, the identification of potentially modifiable factors influencing the pathogenesis of risk factors, such as diet, can help guide recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. As a potential dietary factor, free sugars intake may be related to adverse cardiometabolic outcomes [2,3,4]. This relationship could be mediated by weight gain via the contribution to energy intake, as shown in a previous meta-analysis [2].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
