A new study reveals that reduced sugar intake in early childhood—specifically during the first 1,000 days from conception—may provide long-lasting health benefits, significantly lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes and hypertension later in life. The findings, which were published in the journal Science, highlight the potential protective effects of limiting sugar during critical stages of development.
The study used the unique context of sugar rationing during and after WWII as a natural experiment. Between 1942 and 1953, the UK government restricted sugar consumption to approximately 40 grams per day, significantly lower than the current average sugar intake of 80 grams per day. Researchers studied how this historical change in sugar availability influenced long-term health outcomes, specifically focusing on type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
According to Tadeja Gracner, an economist at USC and the study’s corresponding author, “Studying the long-term effects of added sugar on health is challenging. It is hard to find situations where people are randomly exposed to different nutritional environments early in life. The end of rationing provided us with a novel natural experiment to overcome these problems.”
The study found that children who were exposed to lower sugar intake during their first 1,000 days—approximately the first three years of life—had a 35% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. For those who were diagnosed with diabetes, the onset was delayed by an average of four years.
For hypertension, the study found a 20% reduction in risk, with the onset delayed by two years.
Notably, the researchers found that sugar restriction during pregnancy (in utero) accounted for roughly one-third of the protective benefits observed in the study. This suggests that limiting sugar intake early in life, even before birth, plays a significant role in long-term health outcomes.
The study’s authors are calling for stronger action to limit sugar consumption, particularly in children. Paul Gertler, a professor of economics at the University of California and a study co-author, commented, “Sugar early in life is the new tobacco, and we should treat it as such by holding food companies accountable to reformulate baby foods with healthier options and regulate the marketing and tax sugary foods targeted at kids.”
Dr. Hilda Mulrooney, a reader in nutrition at the London Metropolitan University who was not involved in the study, praised the findings for being “timely,” given the current high sugar intake levels in the UK. “This highlights the potential for early childhood diet as a risk factor for chronic disease. Given the high levels of sugar in foods and drinks aimed at toddlers and young children, this is of concern,” she said, emphasizing that while the study shows an association, causality cannot be directly concluded.
The study also serves as a stark reminder of the potential long-term consequences of excessive sugar consumption, which is linked to a host of chronic diseases. As public health experts continue to address the growing concerns surrounding sugar intake, this study provides important evidence of the need for early intervention.
Read more:
- How Do You Get Type 2 Diabetes?
- How High Blood Sugar Levels In Type 2 Diabetes?
- Type 1 ＆ 2 Diabetes NHS：What’s The Difference
