Abstract
The revised guidelines from the Department of Health (DoH) in the UK state that mean population intakes of free sugars should be below 5% of the total energy (TE) consumption of the British population. However, very few studies have assessed the impact of this recommendation on diet quality in the UK. We explored the dietary patterns and intakes of micronutrients of British adolescents with low intakes of non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) (similar to free sugars but not equal, with slight differences in the categorisation of fruit sugars from dried, stewed or canned fruit and smoothies), using the National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme, years 1–8 (NDNS RP). The sample included 2587 adolescents aged 11–18 years. Four percent (112) of adolescents reported consuming 5% or lower NMES as a proportion of TE. The odds of being categorised as a low-sugar consumer in adolescents (≤5% TE from NMES) were significantly lower with higher intakes of sweetened drinks, fruit juice, cakes, biscuits, sugar and sweet spreads, chocolate confectionery and sugar confectionery, and significantly higher with higher intakes of pasta and rice, wholemeal and brown bread, and fish. Across the five categories of NMES intakes, micronutrient intakes were lowest for those consuming either ≤5% TE or more than 20% TE from NMES, and optimal for those consuming between 10–15% of energy from NMES. These findings confirm the difficulties of meeting the free sugars recommended intake for adolescents. Care needs to be taken to ensure that an adequate consumption of micronutrients is achieved in those adhering to the revised guidelines on free sugars.
Highlights
The prevalence of obesity is high in the UK [1,2]; nearly 25% of adults are obese and the risk of obesity in adulthood is much higher for those who are obese in childhood or adolescence [3].The causal factors for obesity are complex and multi-factorial, but many are modifiable through individual and policy action to improve dietary and activity behaviour
They were categorised by level of % total energy from non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) consumption, as described in the methods, and 4% (n = 112) of the sample consumed ≤5% NMES, and met the recommended level of intake
Twenty-one percent consumed less than 10%Total Energy (TE) from NMES, and were adherent to the previous UK recommendations set by the Department of Health in 1991 [8]
Summary
The prevalence of obesity is high in the UK [1,2]; nearly 25% of adults are obese and the risk of obesity in adulthood is much higher for those who are obese in childhood or adolescence [3].The causal factors for obesity are complex and multi-factorial, but many are modifiable through individual and policy action to improve dietary and activity behaviour. Organization (WHO) recommends that individuals reduce their intakes of fats and sugars and increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables to improve their health [2], which includes limiting the consumption of free sugars in foods and drinks. There are several factors which suggest that a diet high in non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) could result in a poor-quality diet, including excess energy intake, low satiety, poor compensation in terms of energy intake, a less nutritious diet higher in nutrient-poor foods and lower in nutrient-rich foods. Based on further evidence from systematic reviews of dietary sugars and body weight [7], and on dental caries [2], the WHO and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) revised the recommendations to restrict added and free sugars intake in 2015. The recommended % total energy (%TE) from free sugars was lowered from 10% TE [8] to 5% TE [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
