Too Much Sugar—The Not‐So‐Sweet Reality of Its Impact on Our Health

Abstract

A recent study by Miriam Vos and Jeffrey Schwimmer adds to the mounting evidence that eating large amounts of sugar is simply not good for us.(1) For decades, epidemiological studies and animal studies have linked excessive sugar and especially fructose consumption to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).(2) To explore the effects of limiting sugar consumption on fatty liver disease in children, the authors of this recent study restricted sugar consumption to less than 3% of total daily calories for 8 weeks in adolescent boys with NAFLD and baseline serum ALT levels ≥ 45 U/L. A control group was composed of a similar group of boys who were randomized to maintain their usual diet. To assure compliance in the sugar-restricted group, dieticians visited the households and removed all food with excessive sugar or artificial sweeteners and they provided all food for the families for the study duration. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.