A study published in a peer-reviewed academic journal found that consuming large amounts of sugar in early childhood and even in utero increases the risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure later in life.
This was revealed in a publication in Nature, a health publishing journal, on Thursday.
Researchers led by economist Tadeja Gračner of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, analyzed data from the UK Biobank and found that people exposed to a limited amount of sugar during sugar rationing in the UK in the decade 1950s had a 35 percent lower risk of diabetes and a 20 percent lower risk. lower risk of high blood pressure compared to those conceived after rationing ended.
The study suggests that the critical period of exposure to sugar is between six months and two years of age, and that childhood diet has a lasting impact on adult health.
“The amount of sugar a child consumed after turning six months appeared to have the greatest effect on the risk of developing a chronic disease later in life. But people exposed to more sugar in the womb also had a higher risk of diabetes and high blood pressure compared to those who were conceived when access to sugar was limited,” he said.
Balancing sweet cravings in moderation
Ms. Gračner, upon discovering the link between early-life sugar consumption and an increased risk of diabetes, humorously recalled: “I was like, 'No, no, no. This is the last thing I need,' probably enjoying the chocolate at that moment.”
He emphasized that pregnant women and parents do not need to completely eliminate added sugars from their diets or those of their children.
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However, he said it's wise to cut back, considering pregnant and lactating people in the U.S. typically consume more than three times the recommended amount of added sugar. “It's all about moderation,” he advised.
According to the researchers, research has consistently shown that childhood diet has a lasting influence on disease risk in adulthood. A notable example is the increased risk of diabetes, and studies indicate that fetal exposure to famine can double this risk.
Observation
However, Valentina Duque, an economist at American University in Washington, D.C., said drawing conclusions from that data can be challenging.
“Often these big historical shocks affect many things. “It is not known what is due to nutrition, stress, changes in income or household dynamics,” he said.
The economist noted that sugar rationing in the United Kingdom during World War II presented a unique opportunity to investigate the impact of nutrition on long-term health.
Economic difficulties led to food rationing, and sugar limits remained in effect until 1953. By then, other nutritional aspects had returned to recommended daily standards.
According to them, years later, Ms Gračner assembled a research team to explore this event, drawing on the UK Biobank's vast genetic and medical data of 500,000 participants.
The team confirmed a significant increase in sugar intake after rationing and identified two distinct groups for comparison. They focused on individuals conceived during the rationing period (October 1951 to June 1954) and those conceived after rationing ended (July 1954 to March 1956).
By comparing the health outcomes of these groups, Ms. Gračner's team set out to isolate the effects of early-life sugar exposure on adult health.
A significant reduction in the risk of disease was found
Researchers discovered a surprising correlation between sugar exposure and adult health outcomes. Stating that people conceived during sugar rationing in the United Kingdom (1951-1954) had a 35 percent lower risk of diabetes and a 20 percent lower risk of high blood pressure compared to those conceived after rationing ended (1954-1956).
Duque highlighted the magnitude of this effect.
“It is undeniable. The big change here has to do with sugar,” he said.
Therefore, he stated that the use of these findings will promote nutritional education among pregnant people.
Additionally, the lead researcher emphasized the importance of education, but cautioned against excessive worry.
“Pregnant women already have a lot to worry about. “If it’s just a little bit of sugar here and there, everyone will be fine,” he said.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood sugar levels due to the body's inability to produce or effectively use insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar.
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There are three main types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that usually develops in childhood.
Type 2 diabetes, the most common form, is usually related to obesity, physical inactivity and genetics.
Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), approximately 537 million adults, or 9.3 percent of the world's population, were living with diabetes in 2021.
In particular, one in five people with diabetes remains undiagnosed. The prevalence of diabetes is expected to increase to 784 million by 2045.
Regions with the highest prevalence of diabetes include North America at 14.3 percent, the Middle East and North Africa at 13.7 percent, and South Asia at 11.7 percent.