The study, published in the journal ‘Science’, highlights long-term health benefits derived from reducing sugar intake during the first 1,000 days of life.
This period, from conception to two years of age, is essential for future health. An inadequate diet at this time has been linked to negative outcomes in health during adulthood.
Although dietary guidelines recommend that nor sugar is added at all to foods during the first years of life, Exposure to sugar is common in some countries through maternal diet in utero, breastfeeding, and infant formula and solids.
Additionally, some research indicates that most babies and young children consume sweetened foods and drinks daily.
Long term benefits
To study the long-term effects of early sugar consumption, Tadeja Gracner of the University of Southern California (United States) and her collaborators took advantage of a natural experiment in the United Kingdom: the end of a decade of sugar and candy rationing after World War II in 1953.
So the amount of sugar allowed was comparable to that recommended by current dietary guidelines, including those for pregnant women and young children. However, the end of rationing caused an immediate increase and almost doubled sugar consumption.
Using data from the UK Biobank on people who were exposed to sugar rationing in utero and early childhood versus those who were not, Gracner and colleagues found that early exposure to sugar rationing had notable benefits long term for health.
Based on these findings, their risk of developing diabetes and hypertension decreased by approximately 35% and 20%, respectively, and the onset of these diseases was delayed by four and two years.
The protective effect was more pronounced in people exposed to sugar restriction both in utero and after birth. Exposure in utero responsible for a third of the risk reduction. This effect was further amplified after six months of age, probably coinciding with the introduction of solid foods.
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