The degree of food processing contributes to sugar intakes in families with preschool-aged children.
Clin Nutr ESPEN
; 59: 37-47, 2024 02.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38220399
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS:
Evidence implicates ultra-processed food intake as a major contributor of excess dietary sugars. However, little research exists on the relationship between the degree of food processing and sugar intake in families with young children. We investigated associations between the degree of food processing and sugar intake (total and free sugars) in Canadian preschool-aged children and parents.METHODS:
This cross-sectional study of 242 families included preschool-aged children (n = 267) and parents (n = 365) participating in the Guelph Family Health Study. Dietary intake was assessed via the web-based Automated Self-Administered 24-h Dietary Assessment Tool (ASA24-Canada-2016) and classified according to the NOVA Food Classification System including, unprocessed or minimally processed foods, processed culinary ingredients, processed foods and ultra-processed foods. Linear regression models with generalized estimating equations were used to examine associations between the energy contribution of each NOVA classification category and sugar intake (% kcal of total and free sugars). Pearson correlation coefficient estimates were used to assess dietary relationships between parents and children.RESULTS:
Ultra-processed foods were the greatest source of energy (44.3%) and energy from total (8.7%) and free sugars (7.3%) in the parents' diets, and the greatest source of energy (41.3%) and energy from free sugars (7.6%) in the children's diet. Ultra-processed food intake was positively associated with sugar intake in parents (total sugars B = 0.05, 95% CI 0.02-0.09, p = 0.01; free sugars B = 0.11, 95% CI 0.08-0.15, p < 0.001) and children (total sugars B = 0.10, 95% CI 0.04-0.16, p = 0.001; free sugars B = 0.16, 95% CI 0.12-0.21, p < 0.001). Unprocessed or minimally processed food intake was negatively associated with free sugar intake in parents (B = -0.08, 95% CI -0.12 to -0.05, p < 0.001) and children (B = -0.15, 95% CI -0.19 to -0.10, p < 0.001). Weak correlations were found between parents and children for processed culinary ingredients and ultra-processed processed food intake (p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS:
This study highlights the associations between degree of food processing and sugar intake in parents and children, whereby ultra-processed foods were positively, and unprocessed or minimally processed foods were negatively, associated with sugar intake. These are important considerations in the development of policy and recommendations for foods to potentially promote or limit.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
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Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Ingestión de Energía
/
Comida Rápida
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Clin Nutr ESPEN
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article