Sugar and metabolic health

Abstract

+44 (0) 1483 68 8649 2 STRUCTURED ABSTRACT Purpose of reviewThere is considerable political and public awareness of new recommendations to reduce sugars and sugar-sweetened beverages in our diets. It is therefore timely to review the most recent changes in guidelines, with a focus on evidence for metabolic health, recent research in the area and gaps in our knowledge. Recent findingsSufficient evidence links a high intake of sugar to dental caries and obesity, and high intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages in particular to increased risk of type 2 diabetes. This has led to the updating of dietary recommendations related to added sugars in the diet. The effects of specific sugars at usual intakes as part of an isoenergetic diet are less clear. The glycaemic response to food is complex and mediated by many factors, but sugar intake is not necessarily the major component. SummaryThere are many challenges faced by healthcare professionals and government bodies in order to improve the health of individuals and nations through evidence-based diets. Sufficiently powered long-term mechanistic studies are still required to provide evidence for the effects of reducing dietary sugars on metabolic health. However, there are many challenges for research scientists in the implementation of these studies.

The Relation between Eating Habits and Abdominal Fat, Anthropometry, PON1 and IL-6 Levels in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

“…Similar results were registered in the study by Susan K. et al 2017, in which BMI was positively associated with protein and lipid intake and negatively with carbohydrate intake in obese patients [40]. In addition, excessive simple carbohydrate intake is related to obesity and being overweight [41], as well as an increase in adipose tissue in the abdomen [42].…”

Development and relative validation of a short food frequency questionnaire for assessing dietary intakes of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients

“…While there were no differences in macronutrient consumption between NAFL and NASH patients, median intakes of saturated fatty acids (SFA), were higher than dietary guidelines at 13 (10, 16) percent total energy (%TE). Similarly, intakes of total sugars, 15 (11; 21) %TE, were higher than current guidelines worldwide [36] to keep free sugars to 5-10%TE. Although median levels of total fat at 34 (31; 41) %/TE were below Irish and EU recommendations of < 35% total energy, 47% of the cohort exceeded this.…”

Sugar Reduction in Yogurt Products Sold in the UK between 2016 and 2019

“…It is now well established that the excess consumption of free sugars increases the risk of obesity and dental caries. Therefore, in addition to the World Health Organization (WHO), multiple government agencies around the world have strongly recommended that less than 10% of total energy intake should come from free sugars [6,7]. Current expert consensus is that children under two should consume no added/free sugars [8].…”

“…Concerningly, in England in 2017, 30% of children aged 2-15 were overweight or obese, including 17% who were obese [9]. As childhood obesity is a predictor of adult obesity and obesity-related disorders [10], the reduction of free sugars intake is a pragmatic public health message in the context of a portfolio of obesity-prevention strategies [6]. Table 1.…”