Recent findings reveal that reducing sugar intake during pregnancy and a child's first two years can significantly lower the risk of chronic conditions, such as type two diabetes and hypertension, later in life.
Published Nov 05, 2024 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 05, 2024 | 7:00 AM
How cutting sugar in your child's first 1,000 days could reduce blood pressure, diabetes risk by 20-35%. (Representational Image)
During World War II, the United Kingdom implemented strict rationing of sugar and other food products, reducing the daily sugar intake of people to about 40 grams — similar to today’s dietary recommendations.
However, following the end of rationing in September 1953, average sugar consumption surged to approximately 80 grams per day while the intake of other food items remained stable. This unique historical context allowed researchers to examine the long-term health impacts of sugar intake.
Surprisingly, few realised that this period of rationing influenced the health of children in the decades that followed.
The end of WWII created a natural experiment where children born just before the rationing ended experienced sugar-scarce conditions, contrasting sharply with those born into a sugar-rich environment afterwards.
By analysing data from the UK Biobank, researchers identified nearly 60,000 individuals conceived during this critical time, allowing them to compare midlife health outcomes between those exposed to different levels of sugar intake.
Recent findings reveal that reducing sugar intake during pregnancy and a child’s first two years can significantly lower the risk of chronic conditions, such as type two diabetes and hypertension, later in life.
The study, published in the journal, Science, indicated that children whose sugar intake was restricted during their first 1,000 days — including in utero — had up to a 35 percent lower risk of developing type two diabetes and up to a 20 percent lower risk of hypertension as adults.
In-utero exposure to lower sugar levels proved beneficial, with even greater protective effects seen with continued low-sugar exposure after birth.
Led by Tadeja Gračner from the University of Southern California, along with collaborators from McGill University and the University of California, the research highlights the critical role of early dietary environments in shaping lifelong health outcomes.
Gračner emphasised the rarity of such controlled comparisons, and said, “Studying the long-term effects of added sugar on health is challenging,” yet this study sheds new light on the profound impact of early nutrition on adult health.
The study’s findings underscore the critical importance of nutrition during the “first 1,000 days” of life — covering gestation and the first two years after birth — as this period sets the foundation for future health outcomes.
Researchers found that adults who were exposed to sugar restrictions in utero or in their early years not only had lower rates of type two diabetes and hypertension but also tended to experience delayed onset of these diseases if diagnosed.
Specifically, type two diabetes developed four years later, and hypertension two years later in those with reduced early-life sugar exposure compared to those with higher early sugar intake.
“Exposure to a relatively low-sugar environment in utero and early childhood significantly reduces the diabetes and hypertension risk decades later,” said Gračner in a statement. The findings point to an important opportunity for health interventions, as the effects of restricted sugar intake during this critical early-life phase seem to provide lasting health benefits well into middle age.
The study has broad implications for public health. Today, added sugars are prevalent in many food products, including those targeting children.
Health experts recommend that children under two consume no added sugars, a guideline aligned with the findings from this research.
However, many baby and toddler foods on the market contain added sugars, and children are often exposed to marketing for sugary snacks.
“Reducing added sugar early is a powerful step toward improving children’s health over their lifetimes,” said Boone.
She emphasised that parents should have access to better information and healthier food options for young children. Gertler added that sugar in early life is “the new tobacco” and argued for policies holding companies accountable to provide healthier options.
Suggested measures include reformulating baby food, regulating the marketing of sugary food items to children, and imposing taxes on high-sugar products targeted at young consumers.
This research added to the body of evidence on the importance of prenatal and early-life nutrition in preventing chronic conditions. The researchers are expanding their efforts to study other potential long-term benefits of early-life sugar restriction, including effects on cognitive health and socioeconomic outcomes.
Dr Chandna Lakshmi, a Hyderabad-based paediatrician, told South First of the American Heart Association’s recommendation that a man should consume no more than 35 grams and women no more than 25 grams of sugar per day.
“It’s not about eliminating sugar entirely for pregnant women and children,” she said. “Instead, we should prioritise natural sugars over added ones. So, when your grandmother advises against that extra spoon of sugar in your toddler’s milk, she’s got a point.”
Dr Lakshmi cautioned that interpreting past research, like the 1950s study on sugar rationing, requires careful consideration.
“The diet back then, including other nutrients, differs greatly from today’s eating habits,” she explained.
“Nonetheless, evidence linking sugar to obesity remains relevant, with recent studies estimating that 8.4 percent of Indian children are obese, and 12.4 percent are overweight — giving India the second-highest childhood obesity rates globally. Dietary habits, particularly high sugar consumption from snacks and beverages, play a major role,” she says.
Research also indicated that urban children in India consume more sugar than their rural counterparts, with some states reporting significantly higher intake levels.
“The marketing of sugary products has a powerful influence on children’s choices, and many parents, often unknowingly, contribute to excessive sugar intake by selecting packaged foods that are marketed as healthy but actually contain hidden sugars,” Dr Lakshmi pointed out.
Advertising strategies aimed at children further compound this issue, leading to an early attachment to sugary foods.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that adults and children limit their intake of free sugars to under 10 percent of their total energy intake — a guideline many Indian children surpass.
Dr Lakshmi emphasised, “Raising awareness among parents about the health risks of high sugar intake is crucial, along with enforcing stricter regulations on the marketing of sugary foods to children. Promoting healthier food options is key to tackling this growing health crisis.”
For Dr Lakshmi, the message is clear: Reducing sugar intake, especially from pregnancy through early childhood, could be a simple yet impactful step toward preventing chronic diseases later in life.
She believes these findings should inform new dietary guidelines and public health policies worldwide. “Early adjustments in diet could offer a lifetime of benefits, making this early stage of development a valuable opportunity to address the rising burden of chronic health issues,” she said.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
