Should we keep children away from sugar for their first 1000 days?
The list of age-related conditions we can avoid by limiting sugar is shockingly long. But does that mean we should stop our children eating any sugar at all? Columnist Alice Klein takes a look at the evidence for cutting out sugar from conception to age 2
In a recent study conducted by Jiazhen Zheng and colleagues at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, researchers examined the long-term health effects of sugar exposure during the first 1,000 days of life. This critical period, which spans from conception to age 2, is known to have lasting repercussions on an individual's health.
The researchers analyzed data from the UK Biobank, comparing 40,000 adults who experienced sugar rationing during their first 1,000 days with 23,000 adults who were conceived shortly after rationing ended in 1953. The rationing period limited sugar intake to around 40 grams per day for individuals under 2 years old, while average sugar consumption doubled to 80 grams per day within a year after the rationing ended.
The study found that individuals who were exposed to sugar rationing during their first 1,000 days are more likely to still be alive today, and their cells show markers of being biologically younger than those who were never rationed. They also have lower organ ages, particularly for their hearts, lungs, and livers. This suggests that sugar exposure in utero and during infancy can shape ageing processes in cells, programming them for life.
The longer individuals were exposed to sugar rationing during this critical period, the more protected they seem to be from various health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and dementia.
The researchers believe that early sugar exposure may establish permanent preferences for sweet foods, contributing to the higher sugar consumption observed in those born during the post-rationing period. While the study doesn't advocate for a full sugar ban during the first 1,000 days, it does emphasize the importance of lowering sugar consumption for children during this crucial time.
European guidelines recommend that children under 2 years old consume less than 15 grams of free sugar per day, but many commercial baby and toddler foods contain close to this amount or more. The researchers suggest that sugar levels in these products should be reduced, and such recommendations are already being implemented in the UK, with voluntary industry guidelines to cut sugar by the end of 2027.
However, similar guidelines are lacking in Australia and the US, highlighting the need for further action to address the issue of excessive sugar consumption in young children.
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