Study links low-sugar diet in early life to reduced chronic disease risk in adulthood

A recent study has demonstrated that a low-sugar diet during pregnancy and the first two years of life can significantly lower the risk of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, in adulthood.

Published in the journal Science, the research indicates that children who were either in utero or born during periods of sugar rationing in their first 1,000 days experienced up to a 35 per cent reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes and a 20 per cent lower risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) as adults.

The World Health Organisation reports that diabetes mortality rates rose by 3 per cent from 2000 to 2019 across various age groups. In 2019, diabetes and its related kidney disease were responsible for an estimated 2 million deaths, with the condition being a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, and lower limb amputations.

The findings suggest that even minimal sugar exposure before birth can diminish health risks, with continued sugar restrictions after birth enhancing these protective effects.

Lead author Tadeja Gracner, a senior economist at the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research, pointed out the challenges of studying the long-term effects of added sugar on health.

"It is hard to find situations where people are randomly exposed to different nutritional environments early in life and follow them for 50 to 60 years," he noted.

During the rationing period, the average sugar intake was approximately 8 teaspoons (40 grams) per day, which nearly doubled to 16 teaspoons (80 grams) per day after the rationing ended.

Notably, rationing did not result in extreme food deprivation; overall diets generally adhered to modern guidelines set by the US Department of Agriculture and WHO, which recommend no added sugars for children under two and a maximum of 12 teaspoons (50 grams) of added sugar daily for adults.

This significant increase in sugar consumption after rationing allowed researchers to compare health outcomes based on early-life sugar exposure. By focusing on individuals born around the end of sugar rationing, they could assess midlife health results for similar birth cohorts.

The results revealed that experiencing sugar restrictions during the first 1,000 days of life substantially lowered the risk of developing diabetes and hypertension. For those later diagnosed with these conditions, the onset was delayed by an average of four years for diabetes and two years for hypertension.

Notably, even exposure to low sugar levels in utero was sufficient to lower health risks, and continuing sugar restrictions after birth further enhanced these protective effects.

The implications of this study are significant, as the researchers highlight that these early dietary interventions can lead to reduced healthcare costs, extended life expectancy, and improved overall quality of life.

Sugar consumption

Experts express growing concern about excessive sugar consumption among children during this critical developmental phase. Adjusting sugar intake can be challenging due to its prevalence in baby and toddler foods, as well as pervasive advertising.

"Parents need information about what works," stated co-author Claire Boone from McGill University and the University of Chicago, emphasising that this study provides some of the first causal evidence that reducing added sugar early in life can significantly improve children's long-term health.

Co-author Paul Gertler from UC Berkeley and the National Bureau of Economic Research added, "Sugar early in life is the new tobacco, and we should treat it as such by holding food companies accountable for reformulating baby foods with healthier options and regulating the marketing of sugary foods targeted at children."

This study is part of a larger research initiative exploring how early-life sugar restrictions impact various economic and health outcomes in adulthood, including education, wealth, chronic inflammation, cognitive function, and dementia.

Health effects

This research provides compelling evidence of the lasting health effects associated with early exposure to sugar restrictions.

High sugar consumption is linked to several serious health conditions. Type 2 diabetes is a major concern, as excessive sugar intake can lead to insulin resistance.

Obesity often follows, especially from sugary drinks, which further increases the risk of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. Additionally, high sugar can contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and pancreatitis.

Oral health is also impacted, with sugar leading to dental caries as it feeds bacteria that produce harmful acids.

Furthermore, high fructose intake is associated with gout due to increased uric acid levels. Chronic inflammation, a result of excessive sugar, can elevate the risk of various diseases, including certain cancers. Overall, reducing sugar intake can significantly lower the risk of these health issues and improve general well-being.