Comparisons of Nutrient Intakes and Diet Quality among Water-Based Beverage Consumers.

Leila M Barraj,Mary M Murphy,Xiaoyu Bi,Carolyn G Scrafford,Nga L Tran

doi:10.3390/nu11020314

Abstract

Americans are encouraged to reduce intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB). Zero and low-calorie water-based beverages can provide alternative options to SSB, though limited data are available to understand measures of diet quality across different beverage consumer groups. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to quantify intake of added sugars, total sugars, carbohydrates, and diet quality among consumers of zero-calorie unsweetened beverages (ZCUB) compared to SSB; and, separately, among consumers of low- and no-calorie sweetened beverages (LNCSB) when compared to SSB. Dietary data from the 2009–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed among three life stages by SSB, ZCUB, and LNCSB consumer groups and adjusted for participant characteristics and energy intake. Across all life stages, ZCUB and LNCSB consumers had lower mean intakes of total sugars, added sugars, and carbohydrates when compared to SSB consumers. Diet quality as measured by the Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) was also higher among ZCUB and LNCSB consumers compared to SSB consumers in analyses adjusted for participant characteristics. These results indicate that reduction of SSB from dietary patterns and replacement with ZCUB or LNCSB could help Americans improve overall diet quality.

Highlights

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) are a source of both energy and added sugars in the diets of children and adults in the United States (US) [1,2,3,4]
Using recent and nationally representative data for individuals 2 years of age and older, this study quantifies differences in mean sugar and carbohydrate intakes and diet quality comparing consumers of alternative water-based beverage options including ZCUB and separately Low/No-Calorie Sweetened Beverage (LNCSB) to Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) consumers, with adjustments for participant characteristics. Findings from these two independent analyses provide quantitative data to allow for a better understanding of the value ZCUB or LNCSB bring in helping Americans across life stages meet dietary guidance recommendations
Our findings show that consumers of zero-calorie unsweetened or low- and no-calorie sweetened water-based beverages have lower mean intakes of total sugar, added sugar, and carbohydrates and higher mean diet quality when compared to SSB consumers

Summary

Introduction

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) are a source of both energy and added sugars in the diets of children and adults in the United States (US) [1,2,3,4]. To help achieve healthy eating patterns, the 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). Recommend reducing consumption of added sugars to less than 10% of calories per day. The DGA advise Americans to reduce consumption of SSB and instead select beverages with low or no added sugars such as water [5]. The guidelines acknowledge that coffee or tea with no added sweeteners or creamers are a minimal source of calories, and moderate consumption of caffeinated beverages can be a part of healthy eating patterns [5]. For individuals who do enjoy coffee and tea, water as well as plain coffee and tea are all zero-calorie (or essentially calorie-free) unsweetened beverage (ZCUB) options supported by dietary guidance

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