Longitudinal Study of Sugar Intake in Infancy † 617

Presented in: Poster Session Sunday, May 3, 1998, Poster number 145 † 617 Sugar intake in infancy in early childhood is an area of investigation with surprisingly few studies, with most of the research done in adults. The aim of this study was to determine whether early vs. late introduction of solid foods and commercially prepared (CP) vs. parents choice (PC) of solid foods affects sugar intake. Based on adult data, we hypothesized that children with high sugar intakes will compensate their total calorie intake with lower fat; high sugar will be weakly correlated with high lean mass, and a high early sugar intake will result in a high intake later.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to analyze the trends in total sugar intake among Korean and assess its current status.MethodsUsing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016 to 2023, we analyzed the trends in total sugar intake and major food sources among Koreans. Excessive sugar intake was defined as an intake exceeding 20% of the recommended total daily energy intake from sugar.ResultsThe total sugar intake decreased from 67.9 g in 2016 to 59.8 g in 2023, and the proportion of individuals intaking excessive sugar intake also decreased during this period (19.2% vs. 16.9%). The major sources of sugar were beverages, teas, and fruits. People aged 10–49, with high total sugar intake consumed a high proportion of beverages and teas. The sugar intake from beverages, teas, and fruits of individuals who consumed excess sugar was over three times higher than that of those with sugar consumption less than 20% of their total energy.ConclusionsThe Korean total sugar intake has reduced. Total sugar intake is largely from beverages, ice cream, and snacks which have high added sugar. Therefore, continuous efforts are needed to reduce intake of such food items with high added sugar.

Hypertension is common problem across the globe. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of hypertension and impact of salt and sugar intake in Sudanese population. A descriptive cross sectional study, included 323 of participants in Khartoum state. The data collection was performed to gather demographic information, physical activity and dietary habits. In addition to measurement of blood pressure (BP), weight and height measurement for calculation of body mass index (BMI). Among the 323 respondents (males were 171), 29 (9%) are known hypertensive, 60 (18.6%) are diagnosed to be hypertensive. Therefore, the prevalence of hypertension is 27.6%. Hypertension was significantly associated with male sex, increasing age, obesity, low physical activity, salt and sugar intake. Logistic regression analysis showed that increasing age, obesity and high sugar intake are absolute predictors for hypertension in Sudanese population. The prevalence of hypertension was 27.6%. Hypertension in Sudanese individuals was associated with high sugar and salt intake, obesity and increase in age. Therefore, decreasing sugar and salt intake should be advocated by health authorities and the public in Sudan.

(1) Background: High sugar intake is prevalent among children and is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The purpose of this study is to determine if a high intake of free sugars and sugary beverages (SB) in childhood is associated with NAFLD in adulthood; (2) Methods: At 24 years, 3095 participants were assessed for severe hepatic steatosis (controlled attenuation parameter >280 dB/m) and had dietary data collected via a food frequency questionnaire at age three years. Multiple logistic regression models adjusted for total energy intake, potential confounders, and a mediator (offspring body mass index (BMI) at 24 years); (3) Results: Per quintile increase of free sugar intake association with severe hepatic steatosis at 24 years after adjusting for total energy was odds ratio (OR):1.07 (95% CL: 0.99–1.17). Comparing the lowest vs. the highest free sugar consumers, the association was OR:1.28 (95% CL: 0.88–1.85) and 1.14 (0.72, 1.82) after full adjustment. The OR for high SB consumption (>2/day) compared to <1/day was 1.23 (95% CL: 0.82–1.84) and OR: 0.98 (95% CL: 0.60–1.60) after full adjustment; (4) Conclusions: High free sugar and SB intake at three years were positively but weakly associated with severe hepatic steatosis at 24 years. These associations were completely attenuated after adjusting for confounders and 24-year BMI.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate total sugars intake and determine its relationship with nutrient density and obesity degree in elementary school children. A total of 1,292 elementary school students (638 boys, 654 girls) in Chungnam participated in this study. Daily total sugars intake of subjects was analyzed using the USDA database of sugars after a questionnaire survey using 24-hour recalls. The average age of subjects was 9.7 years, daily energy intake was 1,834.0 kcal, and total sugars intake was 37.6 g/day, which was 8.3% of total energy intake. Sugars intake from the milk group was highest at 18.4 g/day, followed by fruits, cereals, sugars and sweeteners, and beverages. Nutrient density of protein as well as Na, Fe, and Zn levels were significantly lower according to total sugars intake level. There was no significant difference between overweight and obesity risk among the sugars intake quartile groups. In conclusion, total sugars intake of subjects was not significantly high and not associated with obesity risk; however, high sugars intake in children was associated with decreased consumption of protein, Fe, and Zn, which are important for growth.

Sweet taste preferences are currently targeted to aid with reducing free sugar intakes, but associations between sweet taste liking, sweet food intakes, and sugar intakes are not well established. UK consumers (n = 179) who were consuming >5% of total energy intakes from free sugars provided several laboratory measures of sweet taste liking, laboratory test meal measures of sweet food choice and sugar intakes, and 3-day food diary measures of free-living free sugar and total sugar intakes. Liking measures included liking for a 1 M sucrose solution, and pleasantness, desire to eat, and sweet taste intensity ratings for seven foods of a range of sweet taste intensities in a taste test. Wide individual differences in sweet taste liking, in liking for a high sweet taste intensity, and in the relationships between sweet taste intensity and sweet taste liking were found. The majority of participants confirmed high liking and increasing liking for increasingly sweet tastes, but differing patterns of responses were also found. Higher liking for sweet foods was associated with increased sweet food selection and consumption at the test meal, and to some degree with free sugar and total sugar consumption in this restricted scenario. However, we found no associations between sweet taste liking, regardless of measure, and either free-living free sugar or total sugar intakes. These findings cast doubt on assumptions that sweet taste preferences are high for all and that these high sweet taste preferences drive high free sugar intakes.

Simple Sugar and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake During Adolescence and Risk of Colorectal Cancer Precursors

In recent years, there is growing concern that high sugar intake increases the risk of obesity with special focus on added sugars and sugar from certain food sources. However, Asian population has been reported with low sugar intake and few studies were conducted for association with obesity in children. This study aimed to examine the association of total sugar intake and sugar intake from milk and fruits with obesity in Korean children. Data was obtained from six different studies that had been conducted from 2002 to 2011. A total of 3,990 children aged 9‐14 years who had completed 3 or more days of dietary records were selected. Mean total sugar intake was 51.1g and that from milk and fruits was 14.1g. There was no association of overweight or obesity across quartiles of total sugar intake except boys of 12‐14 years that had reduced risk for obesity. Girls in the highest quartile of sugar intake from milk and fruits had significantly reduced risks for overweight (OR: 0.48, CIs: 0.29‐0.79 for 9‐11y and OR: 0.52, CIs: 0.29‐0.94 for 12‐14y) and for obesity (OR: 0.44, CIs: 0.21‐0.90 for 9‐11y and OR: 0.46, CIs: 0.22‐0.97 for 12‐14y) in both age groups compared with those in the lowest quartile. In conclusion, intrinsic sugars such as sugars in milk and fruits appear to have favorable effects on overweight or obesity, particularly in Asian girls.

Increasing sugar intake of population has become a nutritional issue in Korea. Sweet taste perception may be related to behaviors such as eating sweet food including high sugars and total sugar intake. This study aimed to evaluate objective and subjective sweet taste perception and the association among objective sweet taste perception, dietary behaviors related to eating sweet snack food including high sugar, and total sugar intake from the snacks. Participants were 261 healthy female college students (mean age: <TEX>$21.0{\pm}1.6years$</TEX>), who were divided into three subgroups based on oral sweet taste evaluation using a sweet taste assessment tool provided by Ministry of Food and Drug Safety: sweet-seeker group (n=139), medium sweet-seeker group (n=54), and unsweet-seeker group (n=68). There was no significant difference in weight and body mass index (BMI) among the three groups; however, the sweet-seeker group had significantly higher sweet taste preference than that of the other groups. Though more people in the sweet-seeker group thought they tended to eat sweet foods than the medium sweet-seeker and unsweet-seeker groups, over half of the sweet-seekers did not think they tended to eat sweet foods. The sweet-seeker group was more likely to eat sweet snacks such as breads, chocolate products, sugar-sweetened milk, and so on than the unsweet-seeker group. Total sugar intake from the selected sweet snacks was 44.4 g for the sweet-seeker group, 34.4 g for the medium sweet-seeker group, and 28.0 g for the unsweet-seeker group with a significant difference. These results indicated the absence of relationship between objective sweet taste perception and the obesity index; however, significant associations were detected among objective sweet taste perception, eating sweet snacks and total sugar intake from the snacks. We also found high disagreement between objective and subjective sweet taste perception of the subjects. The present study provided the novel insight that measuring objective sweet taste perception may be useful for assessing the risk of high sugar consumption and undesirable dietary behaviors.

The association between dietary sugar intake and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder: A case–control study

The World Health Organization recommends to limit intake of free sugars to 5% of total energy per day because of the great impact of high sugar intake on body fat deposition, adiposity and dental caries. However, little data exist about total intake and sources of sugar in European children. Therefore, this paper aims to describe sugar intake and dietary sugar sources and associated factors. Three-day weighed dietary records were obtained at eight time points from children 1 to 8 years of age (n=995) in five European countries. Food items were classified into subgroups according to food composition. Linear mixed models were used to examine associated factors. Total sugar intake increased from 65 g/day (30.0% of energy intake (E%)) at 12 months of age to 83 g/day (20.9 E%) at 96 months of age. Around 80% of children's sugar intake was derived from the following sources: milk and dairy products, fruits and fruit products, confectionary and sugar sweetened beverages (SSB). Total sugar intake and dietary sugar sources varied significantly by country of residence. Boys had a significantly (P=0.003) higher total sugar consumption than girls.SSB consumption was significantly higher in children from young mothers while sugar intake from fruit products was lower in children from mothers with lower educational status and those with higher birth order. Sugar intake in our population was lower than in other studies. Total sugar intake was associated with country of residence and gender, while dietary sugar sources varied by country of residence, maternal age, education and birth order.

In adult rats, perinatal taurine depletion followed by high sugar intake alters neural and renal control of arterial pressure via the renin-angiotensin system. This study tests the hypothesis that perinatal taurine supplementation predisposes adult female rats to the adverse arterial pressure effect of high sugar intake via the renin-angiotensin system, rather than via estrogen. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed normal rat chow with 3% taurine (taurine supplementation, TS) or water alone (control, C) from conception to weaning. Their female offspring were fed normal rat chow with either 5% glucose in tap water (TSG, CG) or tap water alone (TSW, CW). At 7-8 weeks of age, the female offspring's renin-angiotensin system or estrogen receptors were inhibited by captopril or tamoxifen, respectively. Body weight, heart weight, kidney weight, mean arterial pressures (MAP), and heart rates were not significantly different among groups without captopril or tamoxifen. Captopril (but not tamoxifen) decreased MAP but not heart rates in all groups. In TSG compared to TSW, CW, and CG groups, baroreflex sensitivity of heart rate (BSHR) and renal nerve activity (BSRA) were significantly decreased. Neither captopril nor tamoxifen altered BSHR in TSG, but tamoxifen (but not captopril) restored TSG BSRA to CW or CG control levels. Perinatal taurine supplementation did not disturb sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activity in the adult rats on high or basal sugar intake. Compared to its effect in CW and CG groups, tamoxifen increased sympathetic but decreased parasympathetic activity less in TSG and TSW groups. Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system did not affect autonomic nerve activity in any group. These data suggest that in adult female rats that are perinatally supplemented with taurine, high sugar intake after weaning blunts arterial baroreflex via an estrogen (but not renin-angiotensin) mechanism.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate total sugar intake and sugar intake-related dietary habit and nutrient intake of middle school students. Methods: Subjects included 1,184 middle school students (476 males and 708 females) residing in Jeju. This research analyzed daily dietary intakes of subjects using the 24 hour recall method and surveyed the dietary habit related to total sugar intake using questionnaires. Descriptive analysis, chi-square test, t-test, and ANOVA, using the SAS program were used for analysis of data. Results: The average daily total sugar intake was 60.3 g (male 50.5 g, female 66.9 g). Total sugar intake per meal was 6.5 g (10.8%) from breakfast, 9.0 g (14.9%) from lunch, 11.8 g (19.6%) from dinner, and 33.0 g (54.7%) from snacks. Food groups that contribute to the majority of total sugar intake were grains and their products (23.0 g), milk (11.0 g), fruits and their products (7.3 g), sugars and sweets (6.1 g), and vegetables and their products (5.8 g). In terms of total sugar intakes by cooking methods, desserts showed a greater amount than main and side dishes, and indicated in order of amount as follows: bread and cookies (11.5 g), dairy products (7.5 g), ice cakes (6.2 g), beverages (5.3 g), and fruits (4.5 g). Total sugar consumption was high for rice and side dishes such as noodles (10.2 g), fried foods (2.9 g), stir-fried foods (2.0 g), and cooked rice with seasoning (1.7 g). The daily intake of natural sugar, added sugar, and natural and added sugar was 18.3 g, 35.8 g, and 6.2 g, respectively. The high sugar intake group, which was over 20% of the energy from total sugar intakes, consumed significantly less Fe, Zn, vitamin B6, niacin, and vitamin E than the low sugar intake group, which was below 20%. Conclusion: Total sugar intake of second graders of middle schools on Jeju Island was 60.3 g/day, mostly obtained from snacks (54.7%). Therefore, nutritional education for proper selection of better snacks and for reduction of dietary sugar intake is needed for middle school students.

Consuming sugar-added foods and sweetened beverages is being a familiar habit associated with many diseases. Folk information in Yemen indicates the therapeutic effects of Aloe woodii on some diseases. So, the aim of this study is to evaluate the ameliorated effect of Aloe woodii gel extract on liver lesions in female rats induced by high table sugar intake. This study lasted 11 weeks and was divided into two periods. The first period was for high table sugar supplement, whereas the second was for the treatment by the methanolic extract of Aloe woodii gel. At the end of the experiment, body weights were recorded, blood samples were taken, and liver samples were also taken for the histopathological examination supported by quantitative measurement. Results: There was no remarked change in the body weights between groups, but there was an accumulation of the visceral fat and an elevated of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level in the sugar group. Histopathological examination of liver tissues in the sugar group revealed many degenerated manners such as vacuolation and/or ballooning of hepatocytes and inflammation. However, the treatment by Aloe woodii gel led to an ameliorate of the histopathological changes, but had no effect on ALT level. Conclusion: High sugar supplement induced high visceral fat accumulation and many lesions in liver tissue, whereas Aloe woodii treatment ameliorated these effects.

Oral microbiome transplantation (OMT) has the potential to serve as a therapeutic approach for managing dental caries; however, it is essential to identify suitable donors. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between dietary (i.e., energy, water, carbohydrate and sugar intake), saliva quality (i.e., saliva flow rate and salivary pH), and clinical factors (i.e., past caries experience and fluoride exposure) on the oral microbiome composition of potential OMT donors. For this cross-sectional study, a comprehensive dental examination was conducted for 93 healthy, caries-free adults (aged 18–85 years) without systemic or oral disease. All participants completed questionnaires on food frequency and socio-economic, lifestyle, and behavioural factors. Supragingival plaque samples were collected, and bacterial 16S rRNA genes were amplified, sequenced, and assigned to bacterial taxa. Stimulated saliva samples were collected for salivary flow rate and pH measurements. Constrained partial ordination analysis revealed that dietary factors, such as carbohydrate and sugar intake, had strong directional influences on microbial composition, while salivary factors like flow rate and pH showed opposing effects. Correlation analysis linked high sugar intake and reduced salivary pH to increased Streptococcus abundance. Differential abundance analysis identified significantly higher abundance of Streptococcus species among low water and high carbohydrate and sugar consumers. In mediation analysis, sugar consumption was directly and indirectly linked to reduced salivary pH, with Streptococcus showing a significant negative mediation effect (mean: -0.198; 95% CI: -0.387 to -0.010). High carbohydrate and sugar intake significantly influenced alpha diversity metrics (p < 0.05). Beta diversity permutational multivariate ANOVA revealed that covariates explained 11.45–12.52% of microbial variation (p < 0.05). This study emphasises that OMT donors with diverse oral microbiomes, low sugar and carbohydrate intake, and reduced levels of acidogenic taxa, such as Streptococcus, which significantly mediate salivary pH reduction, may be preferred for caries prevention.