Chinese researchers from the West China Hospital of Sichuan University have warned the public of the harmful associations between dietary sugar consumption and 18 endocrine/metabolic outcomes, ten cardiovascular outcomes, seven cancer outcomes, and ten other outcomes including neuropsychiatric, dental, hepatic, osteal, and allergic. According to the research analysis published in the British Medical Journal, the harmful effects of sugar are more prevalent in children and adolescents.
The team systematically analyzed a vast volume of data extracted from published systematic reviews and meta-analyses to avoid deficiencies in study design, inconsistent findings, and varying measurements that made drawing definitive conclusions difficult. Major data sources include Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and hand-searching of reference lists. The analysis of 8,601 related research articles supported their claim of the negative impacts of harmful associations between sugar-sweetened beverages and ectopic fat accumulation, body weight changes, sugar-sweetened beverages, and depression, obesity in children, and coronary heart diseases.
Although the evidence associating dietary sugar consumption and cancer remains limited, it still requires further research. In response to the damaging effects of dietary sugar, the researchers recommend reducing free sugars or added sugars intake to a maximum of 25 grams every day, which is about six teaspoons a day. They also advise limiting sugar-sweetened beverages to less than one serving per week, which is about 200 to 355 ml every week.
The researchers have called for global policies and widespread public health education to change sugar consumption patterns. Hence, the researchers urged the public to embrace their recommendations promptly, especially parents, to help reduce the harmful effects of sugar on their children.
In conclusion, this research calls for a prompt review of dietary habits, especially for children and adolescents. It has also shed light on the need for public enlightenment and for global policy changes aimed at promoting a healthy diet.
Xinhua/NAN
