Intake of Added Sugar from Different Sources and Risk of All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Diseases: The Role of Body Mass Index.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown an ascending trend in global added sugar consumption. Evidence for the long-term consequences of added sugar from different sources on all-cause mortality and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remains limited. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the associations between added sugar from various sources and the risk of all-cause mortality and CVDs, and to determine whether genetic predisposition and body mass index (BMI, in kg/m2) influence or mediate these associations. METHODS: We included 196,414 UK Biobank participants who completed a 24-h food survey between 2009 and 2012. Sugar contents were collected from the Composition of Foods Integrated Data set (CoFID). The National Death Registries and hospital records provided data on death and the disease diagnosis. We employed a polygenic risk score (PRS) to assess the genetic predisposition. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyze the associations. RESULTS: Totally, 10,081 deaths, 38,563 hypertension cases, 12,306 ischemic heart diseases (IHD), and 5491 cerebrovascular diseases were documented. Compared with the lowest quartile group of added sugar intake, the hazard ratios for all-cause mortality in the highest quartile were 1.21 (95% CI: 1.14, 1.30) for total added sugar, 1.03 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.10) for solids, and 1.16 (95% CI: 1.10, 1.23) for beverages. For CVDs, significant associations were observed in total added sugar and beverage sources. These associations were not altered by PRS, and individuals at greatest risk showed higher PRS along with excessive added sugar consumption (Ptrend < 0.001). BMI was found to mediate the highest proportion of the association between added sugar and hypertension (19.10% for total; 36.95% for beverages). CONCLUSIONS: Higher intake of added sugar, especially from beverages, is associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality and CVDs. BMI mediates a proportion of these associations.

Evolution of household availability of added sugars and their sources in Brazil: analysis of Household Budget Surveys from 2002 to 2017.

The objective of this study was to describe the evolution of household purchase of added sugars and their main food sources in Brazil. Nationally representative data from the Household Budget Surveys from 2002-2003, 2008-2009 and 2017-2018 were used. Energy and added sugar quantities were estimated by means of per capita food quantities. The items considered as food sources were: (1) table sugar: refined sugar and other energetic sweeteners and (2) processed and ultra-processed foods with added sugar: soft drinks; other drinks; sweets, candies and chocolates; cookies; cakes and pies and other foods. The parameters estimated were: mean share of added sugar in total energy and, for food sources, the share of added sugar in total sugar intake and the impact of variations in sources of added sugar between 2008 and 2017. There was a regular share of energy from added sugar to total energy intake between 2002 and 2008 but a reduced share in 2017. Between 2008 and 2017, there was a decrease in the share of refined sugar and other sweeteners and soft drinks to total sugar intake and an increased share of all other items. High-income households had a lower share of refined sugar and other energetic sweeteners, but a higher share of soft drinks, sweets, candies and chocolates. The decrease in added sugar in 2017 was mainly due to the lower share of soft drinks. In conclusion, Brazilians' total intake of added sugar was decreased, mostly owing to reduced consumption of sugar from soft drinks.

Added sugar intake is associated with weight gain and risk of developing obesity over 30 years: The CARDIA study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Numerous prospective studies have examined sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) intake associated with weight gain or incident obesity. Because SSB accounts for only 33 % of added sugar (AS) intake, we investigated the associations of AS intake with change in weight and waist circumference and risk of developing obesity. METHODS AND RESULTS: At baseline (1985-86) Black and White women and men, aged 18-30 years, enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study and were followed for 30 years (2015-16). A diet history assessed dietary intake 3 times over 20 years. Multivariable linear regression evaluated the associations of change in weight (n = 3306) and waist circumference (n = 3296) across quartiles of AS, adjusting for demographics, lifestyle factors, and anthropometrics. Proportional hazards regression analysis evaluated the associations of time-varying cumulative AS intake with risk of incident obesity (n = 4023) and abdominal obesity (n = 3449), adjusting for the same factors. Over 30 years of follow-up, greater AS intake was associated with gaining 2.3 kg more weight (ptrend = 0.01) and 2.2 cm greater change in waist circumference (ptrend = 0.005) as well as increased risk of incident obesity (HR 1.28; 95 % CI: 1.08-1.53) and incident abdominal obesity (HR 1.27; 95 % CI:1.02-1.60). CONCLUSION: Our findings are consistent with recommendations from the 2020-2025 U S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans to limit daily AS intake.

Association Between Added Sugar Intake and Urinary Incontinence in Females: A Cross-sectional Population-based Study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a widespread issue in women that severely impacts quality of life. The addition of sugar is associated with multiple adverse effects on health. This study examined the potential association between added sugar intake and UI. METHODS: Adult females from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database (2005-2018) were included in this study. The primary outcomes were the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), urge urinary incontinence (UUI), and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI). Weighted logistic regression, stratified logistic regression, restricted cubic spline regression, and sensitivity analyses were utilized to determine whether added sugar was associated with UI after multivariate adjustment. RESULTS: A total of 14,927 participants met the inclusion criteria. The results revealed a heightened prevalence of SUI, UUI, and MUI in the fourth quartile of added sugar energy percentage (OR = 1.304, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.105-1.539; OR = 1.464, 95% CI = 1.248-1.717; OR = 1.657, 95% CI = 1.329-2.065 respectively). The effect was more pronounced in young women and the subgroup analyses did not reveal any noteworthy interaction effects. According to the sensitivity analyses, the results for SUI and the MUI were consistent with those of the primary analyses. CONCLUSIONS: The excessive intake of added sugar among women may increase their risk of SUI and MUI. Our study highlights the negative effects of added sugar on female genitourinary health and highlights the need for universal access to healthy diets.

Dietary Sugar and Anthropometrics among Young Children in the Guelph Family Health Study: Longitudinal Associations.

Purpose: Our understanding of the influence of sugar intake on anthropometrics among young children is limited. Most existing research is cross-sectional and has focused on sugar-sweetened beverages. The study objective was to investigate longitudinal associations between young children's total, free, and added sugar intake from all food sources at baseline with anthropometric measures at baseline and 18 months.Methods: The Guelph Family Health Study (GFHS) is an ongoing randomized controlled trial and a family-based health promotion study. Food records and anthropometric data were collected at baseline (n = 109, 55 males; 3.7 ± 1.1 y, mean ± SD) and 18 months (n = 109, 55 males; 5.1 ± 1.1 y) of the GFHS pilots. Associations between sugar intakes and anthropometrics were estimated using linear regression models with generalized estimating equations adjusted for age, sex, household income, and intervention status.Results: Total sugar intake was inversely associated with body weight at 18 months (P = 0.01). There was no effect of time on any other associations between total, free, and added sugar intakes and anthropometrics.Conclusions: Early life dietary sugar intakes may not relate to anthropometric measures in the short term. Further investigation into potential associations between dietary sugar intakes and anthropometric variables over longer time periods is warranted.

Consumption frequency of ultra-processed foods and beverages among 6- to 36-month-olds in Kampala, Uganda.

The nutrition transition in sub-Saharan Africa has led to increased consumption of ultra-processed foods in infancy, especially sweet foods. This has heightened the risk for nutrition-related non-communicable diseases, including dental caries and overweight/obesity, and promotes poor food choices later in life. The present study used a cross-sectional design to investigate the consumption frequency of ultra-processed foods and beverages among urban 6- to 36-month-olds attending four selected health facilities in Kampala using a standardised questionnaire and 24-h diet recall record. The primary outcome was the consumption of at least one ultra-processed food or beverage (UPFB) the previous day, and frequency of UPFB consumption of the week before was the secondary outcome. Four hundred and ten caregiver-child pairs were randomly recruited, 94% of caregivers being mothers with a mean age of 30.7 (±5.3) years. Fifty-nine per cent of mothers and 73% of fathers had attained a college education. The median age of children was 18 months and 51% were female. Most children (57%) consumed at least one UPFB the previous day. In the week before, 69% had consumed UPFB frequently (4-7 days) which was significantly positively associated with maternal education (odds ratio [OR] = 2.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02-7.96, p = 0.045) and child's age ([OR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.62-5.08, p < 0.001], [OR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.88-7.20, p < 0.001]). In conclusion, the dietary habits of the surveyed Ugandan population were unhealthy, characterised by the frequent consumption of UPFB with added sugar. There is an urgent need to re-enforce existing Ugandan food regulation guidelines and policies and to build strong nutritional education programmes to enhance health-promoting environments in early childhood.

Association between added sugar consumption in foods and beverages and body mass index among adolescents in university southern Thailand: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Excessive consumption of added sugar is an essential contributing factor to weight gain in adolescence, leading to non-communicable diseases. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the added sugar consumption in foods and beverages and determine the association between free sugar consumption and BMI status. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 280 adolescents in university (18-22 years) recruited from undergraduate students at different schools. The information was acquired using a 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire. Adjusted binary logistic regression analysis was used to assess the associations between added sugar consumption in foods and beverages and nutritional status. Results: Half of the participants had a BMI status in the normal range (51.8%). A large percentage of adolescents had eaten staple food only two times and did not have breakfast (49%). Additionally, most of the student did not eat a snack or drink beverages (57.7%). Consumption of vegetables, fruit, meat, and milk was higher in obese subjects than other groups. The results showed that adolescents consumed more added sugar (79.2%) than is recommended by the WHO. The majority of added sugar consumption were beverages (46.5%). The findings revealed that added sugar consumption among undergraduate students did not differ significantly depending on BMI. Conclusion: This study indicated that added sugar consumption in university students exceeded the WHO recommendation, although there was no discernible difference in BMI status. The results would be useful for further study and may help dietitians provide appropriate nutrition education or campaigns to reduce added sugar consumption in Thai and Southeast Asia university students.

The Association between Dietary Sugar Intake and Nephrolithiasis: Results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2018.

BACKGROUND: Dietary sugar intake is gradually considered a risk factor for many diseases. A sugary diet was positively associated with risk of nephrolithiasis, but the specific relationships remain undefined. OBJECTIVES: To determine associations between risk of nephrolithiasis and dietary sugar intake. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 21,590 participants based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2018. Amounts of dietary sugar intake (g/d) were the main exposure, including total sugar intake, added sugar intake, and food sources. Associations were analyzed by logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines using complex weighted designs. RESULTS: Weighted mean intake [standard error] of total sugar and added sugar were 111.2 [2.0] g/d and 73.7 [1.9] g/d in participants with nephrolithiasis, respectively. In the fully adjusted regression model, compared to those in quartile 1, the population in quartile 4 of total sugar intake showed a significant risk of nephrolithiasis [odds ratio (OR): 1.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-1.51]; OR for added sugar intake was 1.56 (95% CI: 1.25-1.94). The risks of nephrolithiasis increased steadily when total sugar and added sugar intake exceeded ∼150 g/d and 63 g/d in restricted cubic spline analyses, respectively. The highest sugar intake from beverages was associated with an increased risk of nephrolithiasis (OR for total sugar: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.07-1.72; OR for added sugar: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.09-1.73). Added sugar intake from meat, egg, and oil was significantly associated with risk of nephrolithiasis (quartile 4, OR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.02-1.47), whereas total sugar intake from dairy products was in reverse (quartile 4, OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.54-0.82). CONCLUSIONS: Total and added sugar intake, sugar intake from beverages, and added sugar intake from meat, egg, and oil were associated with an increased risk of nephrolithiasis, whereas total sugar intake from dairy products was negatively associated.

Glycemic Load, Dietary Fiber, Added Sugar, and Spontaneous Abortion in Two Preconception Cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous abortion (SAB)-pregnancy loss before the 20th week of gestation-has adverse psychological and physical sequelae. Some medical conditions known to affect insulin sensitivity, including polycystic ovary syndrome and diabetes, can affect the risk of SAB. No prior studies have examined glycemic load and incidence of SAB in populations without conditions known to affect insulin sensitivity. OBJECTIVES: We prospectively evaluated the association between preconception glycemic load and intake of carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and added sugar and risk of SAB. METHODS: During 2013-2020, we recruited pregnancy planners from Denmark (SnartForaeldre.dk; SF) and the United States and Canada (Pregnancy Study Online; PRESTO). Participants completed a baseline questionnaire and a cohort-specific FFQ evaluated for validity. We estimated preconception glycemic load and intake of carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and added sugar from individual foods and mixed recipes. We included 2238 SF and 4246 PRESTO participants who reported a pregnancy during the course of the study. SAB data were derived from questionnaires and population registries. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate HRs and 95% CIs. RESULTS: In the study population, 15% of SF participants and 22% of PRESTO participants experienced SAB. Across both cohorts, there was no appreciable association between glycemic load, carbohydrate quality, dietary fiber, or added sugar intake and SAB. Compared with daily mean glycemic load <110, the HR for women with daily mean glycemic load ≥130 was 0.76 (95% CI: 0.52, 1.10) in SF and 1.01 (95% CI: 0.86, 1.19) in PRESTO. CONCLUSIONS: Diets with high glycemic load, carbohydrates, and added sugars were not consistently associated with risk of SAB in parallel analyses of 2 preconception cohort studies of women in North America and Denmark.

An Update on Nutrition Guidance for Cardiovascular Health.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The goal of this article is to summarize recent guidance on diet and cardiovascular health. RECENT FINDINGS: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the USA, and diet significantly impacts cardiovascular disease risk. The focus of contemporary dietary recommendations has shifted from single nutrient replacements to dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean, healthy USA, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and healthy plant-based patterns. Recommended dietary patterns emphasize whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes/pulses, seafood, lean meats, and fish/seafood. They also limit intakes of ultra-processed foods, processed meats, and alcohol, as well as foods high in salt and added sugars, particularly sugar-sweetened beverages.

How Could Taxes on Sugary Drinks and Foods Help Reduce the Burden Of Type 2 Diabetes?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Taxes on sugary drinks and foods have emerged as a key strategy to counteract the alarming levels of diabetes worldwide. Added sugar consumption from industrialized foods and beverages has been strongly linked to type 2 diabetes. This review provides a synthesis of evidence on how taxes on sugary products can influence the onset of type 2 diabetes, describing the importance of the different mechanisms through which the consumption of these products is reduced, leading to changes in weight and potentially a decrease in the incidence of type 2 diabetes. RECENT FINDINGS: Observational studies have shown significant reductions in purchases, energy intake, and body weight after the implementation of taxes on sugary drinks or foods. Simulation studies based on the association between energy intake and type 2 diabetes estimated the potential long-term health and economic effects, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, suggesting that the implementation of sugary food and beverage taxes may have a meaningful impact on reducing type 2 diabetes and complications. Public health response to diabetes requires multi-faceted approaches from health and non-health actors to drive healthier societies. Population-wide strategies, such as added sugar taxes, highlight the potential benefits of financial incentives to address behaviors and protective factors to significantly change an individual's health trajectory and reduce the onset of type 2 diabetes worldwide, both in terms of economy and public health.

Current perspectives on global sugar consumption: definitions, recommendations, population intakes, challenges and future direction.

Currently, there is considerable emphasis on the relationship between dietary sugar consumption and various health outcomes, with some countries and regions implementing national sugar reduction campaigns. This has resulted in significant efforts to quantify dietary sugar intakes, to agree on terms to describe dietary sugars and to establish associated recommendations. However, this information is infrequently collated on a global basis and in a regularised manner. The present review provides context regarding sugar definitions and recommendations. It provides a global review of the available data regarding dietary sugar intake, considering forms such as total, free and added sugars. A comprehensive breakdown of intakes is provided by age group, country and sugar form. This analysis shows that free sugar intakes as a percentage of total energy (%E) are the highest for children and adolescents (12-14%E) and the lowest for older adults (8%E). This trend across lifecycle stages has also been observed for added sugars. The available data also suggest that, while some reductions in sugar intake are observed in a few individual studies, overall intakes of free/added sugars remain above recommendations. However, any wider conclusions are hampered by a lack of detailed high-quality data on sugar intake, especially in developing countries. Furthermore, there is a need for harmonisation of terms describing sugars (ideally driven by public health objectives) and for collaborative efforts to ensure that the most up-to-date food composition data are used to underpin recommendations and any estimates of intake or modelling scenarios.

Reducing dietary intake of added sugars could affect the nutritional adequacy of vitamin A in adolescents: the Costa Rica case.

BACKGROUND: In countries where sugar fortification with vitamin A is mandatory, strategies to reduce the prevalence of overweight/obesity in adolescents that involve lowering added sugar intake could lead to vitamin A inadequate intakes, since vitamin A-fortified sugar for home consumption contributes to a high proportion of this vitamin intake in the adolescent diet. METHODS: The study employed a hierarchical linear model to perform a mediation analysis on a cross-sectional sample of adolescents (13-18 years old) in the province of San José, Costa Rica. RESULTS: Lowering the total energy intake derived from added sugars to less than 10% significantly increases the prevalence of vitamin A inadequate intake in adolescents by 12.1% (from 29.6% to 41.7%). This is explained by the mediation model in which, the reduced adequacy of vitamin A intake is mediated by a reduction in total energy intake derived from added sugars fortified with vitamin A. CONCLUSIONS: The vitamin A fortification of sugar for household consumption should be reassessed according to the current epidemiological profile in Costa Rica to promote strategies that reduce the prevalence of overweight/obesity in adolescents by lowering the consumption of added sugars without affecting vitamin A intake.

Associated substitution and complementation patterns of processed discretionary foods and drinks on total energy and added sugar intake.

BACKGROUND: Processed discretionary foods and drinks (industrialised sugary drinks, sweet and savoury snacks, and grain-based sweets) are often target of policies aimed at regulating the food environment. We aimed to understand if a lower intake of processed foods or drinks is associated with substitution or complementation patterns and overall intake. METHODS: We analysed a subsample with two 24-h dietary recalls of the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012 (358 children, 253 adolescents and 278 adults). We compared within-person, energy and added sugar intakes between days with and without consumption of each food group with fixed-effects regressions. We estimated the relative change (change in intake when not consumed/average intake when consumed × 100). RESULTS: Processed discretionary foods were not fully substituted, as total energy was 200-400 kcal/day lower when these foods were not consumed. The change in total intake was larger than the intake when consumed (i.e., complemented) for industrialised sugary drinks in adolescents (-136%) and adults (-215%), and sweet, savoury snacks for children (-141%). The change was lower (i.e., partially substituted) for grain-based sweets among children (-78%) and adolescents (-73%). For added sugars, most processed discretionary groups were complemented. CONCLUSIONS: Days without intake of processed discretionary foods were associated with lower total energy and lower added sugar intake compared to days when those foods were consumed. This suggests that regulatory policies to reduce the intake of processed foods could have a meaningful impact on improving the overall diet.

A Machine Learning Approach to Predict the Added-Sugar Content of Packaged Foods.

BACKGROUND: Dietary guidelines recommend limiting the intake of added sugars. However, despite the public health importance, most countries have not mandated the labeling of added-sugar content on packaged foods and beverages, making it difficult for consumers to avoid products with added sugar, and limiting the ability of policymakers to identify priority products for intervention. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to develop a machine learning approach for the prediction of added-sugar content in packaged products using available nutrient, ingredient, and food category information. METHODS: The added-sugar prediction algorithm was developed using k-nearest neighbors (KNN) and packaged food information from the US Label Insight dataset (n = 70,522). A synthetic dataset of Australian packaged products (n = 500) was used to assess validity and generalization. Performance metrics included the coefficient of determination (R2), mean absolute error (MAE), and Spearman rank correlation (ρ). To benchmark the KNN approach, the KNN approach was compared with an existing added-sugar prediction approach that relies on a series of manual steps. RESULTS: Compared with the existing added-sugar prediction approach, the KNN approach was similarly apt at explaining variation in added-sugar content (R2 = 0.96 vs. 0.97, respectively) and ranking products from highest to lowest in added-sugar content (ρ = 0.91 vs. 0.93, respectively), while less apt at minimizing absolute deviations between predicted and true values (MAE = 1.68 g vs. 1.26 g per 100 g or 100 mL, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: KNN can be used to predict added-sugar content in packaged products with a high degree of validity. Being automated, KNN can easily be applied to large datasets. Such predicted added-sugar levels can be used to monitor the food supply and inform interventions aimed at reducing added-sugar intake.

Perceived effectiveness of added-sugar warning label designs for U.S. restaurant menus: An online randomized controlled trial.

Added-sugar consumption in the U.S. exceeds recommended limits. Policymakers are considering requiring restaurants to use menu warning labels to indicate items high in added sugar. We sought to determine whether icon-only and icon-plus-text added-sugar menu labels were (1) perceived as more effective at potentially reducing consumption of items high in added sugar and (2) increased knowledge of menu items' added-sugar content relative to control labels, and if effects differed by label design. A national sample of U.S. adults (n = 1327) participated in an online randomized experiment. Participants viewed menu items with either a control label, 1 of 6 icon-only labels, or 1 of 18 icon-plus-text labels with 3 text variations. For their assigned label, participants provided ratings of perceived message effectiveness (a validated scale of a message's potential to change behavior). Participants were also asked to classify menu items by their added-sugar content. The icon-only and icon-plus-text labels were perceived as more effective than the control label (means: 3.7 and 3.7 vs. 3.1, respectively, on a 5-point scale; p < 0.001). The icon-only and icon-plus-text groups each correctly classified 71% of menu items by added-sugar content vs. 56% in the control group (p < 0.001). All icons and text variations were perceived as similarly effective. In conclusion, relative to a control label, icon-only and icon-plus-text added-sugar menu labels were perceived as effective and helped consumers identify items high in added sugar. Menu warning labels may be a promising strategy for reducing added-sugar consumption from restaurants, but research on behavioral effects in real-world settings is needed. Clinical Trials Identifier:NCT04637412.

Association between added sugar intake and overall diet quality in the Finnish adult population.

Added sugar intake has been associated with several health issues, but few studies have examined its association with overall diet quality. We aimed at examining the association between added sugar intake and overall diet quality in Finnish adults. Associations between added sugar intake and sociodemographic factors, lifestyle factors, and BMI were also explored. Our data comprised 5094 adults residing in Finland who participated in the National FinHealth 2017 Study. Dietary intake was assessed by a validated FFQ. Food consumption and nutrient intakes were calculated using the Finnish national food composition database. Added sugar intake was estimated based on food categorisation and identifying naturally occurring sugar sources. Overall diet quality was assessed by the modified Baltic Sea Diet Score. The average added sugar intake was 7·6 E % in women and 8·3 E % in men in this study population. Added sugar intake was inversely associated with education (P = 0·03 women; P = 0·001 men), physical activity (P < 0·0001), and BMI in men (P = 0·003), and directly with smoking (P = 0·002 women; P < 0·0001 men). Added sugar intake was inversely associated with overall diet quality in both sexes (P < 0·0001). No interactions were found except for men's physical activity subgroups, the inverse association being stronger among active men than moderately active or inactive men (Pfor interaction = 0·005). Our findings suggest that high added sugar intake is associated with several unhealthy dietary and lifestyle habits, including poor-quality diets, smoking and leisure-time inactivity in Finnish adults. Efforts to improve diet quality should consider added sugar intake equally in the whole population.

Added sugar intake and its forms and sources in relation to risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: results from the Tianjin Chronic Low-grade Systemic Inflammation and Health cohort study.

It has been suggested that added sugar intake is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, previous studies only focused on sugar-sweetened beverages; the evidence for associations with total added sugars and their sources is scarce. This study aimed to examine the associations of total added sugars, their physical forms (liquid v. solid) and food sources with risk of NAFLD among adults in Tianjin, China. We used data from 15 538 participants, free of NAFLD, other liver diseases, CVD, cancer or diabetes at baseline (2013-2018 years). Added sugar intake was estimated from a validated 100-item FFQ. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasonography after exclusion of other causes of liver diseases. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were fitted to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and corresponding 95 % CI for NAFLD risk with added sugar intake. During a median follow-up of 4·2 years, 3476 incident NAFLD cases were documented. After adjusting for age, sex, BMI and its change from baseline to follow-up, lifestyle factors, personal and family medical history and overall diet quality, the multivariable HR of NAFLD risk were 1·18 (95 % CI 1·06, 1·32) for total added sugars, 1·20 (95 % CI 1·08, 1·33) for liquid added sugars and 0·96 (95 % CI 0·86, 1·07) for solid added sugars when comparing the highest quartiles of intake with the lowest quartiles of intake. In this prospective cohort of Chinese adults, higher intakes of total added sugars and liquid added sugars, but not solid added sugars, were associated with a higher risk of NAFLD.

What are the benefits and risks of nutrition policy actions to reduce added sugar consumption? An Australian case study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to critically analyse Australia's current and proposed policy actions to reduce added sugar consumption. Over-consumption of added sugar is a significant public health nutrition issue. The competing interests, values and beliefs among stakeholders mean they have disparate views regarding which policy actions are preferable to reduce added sugar consumption. DESIGN: Semi-structured interviews using purposive, snowball sampling and policy mapping. Policy actions were classified by two frameworks: NOURISHING (e.g. behaviour change communication, food environment and food system) and the Orders of Change (e.g. first order: technical adjustments, second order: reforming the system, third order: transforming the system). SETTING: Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-two stakeholders from the food industry, food regulation, government, public health groups and academia. RESULTS: All proposed and existing policy actions targeted the food environment/behaviour change; most were assessed as first-order changes, and reductionist (nutrient specific) in nature. Influences on policy actions included industry power, stakeholder fragmentation, government ideology/political will and public pressure. Few stakeholders considered potential risks of policy actions, particularly of non-nutritive sweetener substitution or opportunity costs for other policies. CONCLUSIONS: Most of Australia's policy actions to reduce added sugar consumption are reductionist. Preferencing nutrient specific, first-order policy actions could reflect the influence of vested interests, a historically dominant reductionist orientation to nutrition science and policy, and the perceived difficulty of pursuing second- or third-order changes. Pursuing only first-order policy actions could lead to 'regrettable' substitutions and creates an opportunity cost for more comprehensive policy aimed at adjusting the broader food system.

'I Knew I Should Stop, but I Couldn't Control Myself': a qualitative study to explore the factors influencing adolescents' consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and sugary snacks from a socio-ecological perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the factors influencing Taiwanese adolescents' consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and sugary snacks from a socio-ecological perspective. DESIGN: This study adopted a qualitative design by using face-to-face, in-depth interviews guided by a semistructured questionnaire. SETTING: Eight junior high schools in New Taipei City and Changhua County, Taiwan, September to November 2018. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-nine participants aged 12-14 years participated in this study. RESULTS: Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. This study identified four themes to address the multifaceted factors that influence adolescents' consumption of SSB and sugary snacks. At the intrapersonal level, physiological factors, psychological factors, individual economic factors and taste preferences were mentioned in connection with people's consumption of SSB and sugary snacks. Positive or negative influences of parents, siblings, peers and teachers on SSB and sugary snack intake were identified at the interpersonal level. The availability of SSB and sugary snacks at home, their availability in vending machines or in school stores in the school environment and participants' access to convenience stores and hand-shaken drink shops in the broader community influenced SSB and sugary snack consumption. Additionally, food culture and food advertising were identified as influencing societal factors. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, this qualitative study determined not only that the consumption of SSB and sugary snacks is influenced by intrapersonal factors but also that interpersonal, environmental and societal factors affect adolescents' increased sugar intake. The findings are helpful to broaden the options for designing and developing interventions to decrease SSB and sugary snack consumption by adolescents.