Reducing newborns’ sugar intake protects their long-term health, study finds | Health | Magazine

Limit sugar intake in the first thousand days of life – from conception to 2 years – reduces the risk of developing diabetes and hypertension in adulthood, according to a study based on food rationing implemented in the United Kingdom after World War II.

Research published in the journal Scienceconfirms that early development is a critical period for long-term health and that poor nutrition during this period has negative consequences in adulthood.

Although dietary guidelines recommend not adding sugar in the first years of life, In the United States, people often suffer from high exposure to sugar in the womb – through the mother’s diet. as well as during breastfeeding and special feeding of the child.

Moreover, research shows that Most infants and young children consume sugary foods and drinks daily.

To study the long-term effects of early sugar consumption on health, Tadeja Grakner from the University of Southern California and a team of scientists from the universities of Berkeley, Chicago and McGill studied the effects The rationing of sugar and sweets introduced in the United Kingdom at the end of the Second World War was a natural experiment that lasted until 1953.

During this period, citizens’ sugar intake was comparable to current dietary recommendations, including for pregnant women and young children, but when rationing ended, sugar consumption nearly doubled overnight.

Using data from the UK Biobank, the researchers looked at the health of people who were and were not subject to sugar rationing in utero and during the first years of life. Thus they discovered that Rationing sugar in the early years of life had noticeable long-term health benefits.

According to the results, those who were born under this rationing and Children exposed to low sugar levels in the early years of life had a 35% lower risk of developing diabetes and a 20% lower risk of developing hypertension.

Moreover, the age at which these diseases developed in adulthood was delayed by an average of 4 and 2 years, respectively.

The protective effect was most pronounced in people with sugar restriction both in utero and after birth; In utero protection alone accounted for about a third of the risk reduction.

According to the study, the effect was further enhanced after 6 months of age, which likely coincided with the introduction of complementary foods.

According to researcher Jesús Francisco García Gavilan of the Network Biomedical Research Center for Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition (Spain), the results of this study confirm the findings of previous reports and support the dietary recommendations they are aiming for. Avoid or reduce your intake of simple sugars during pregnancy and, as much as possible, delay their intake during early childhood.

There are limitations due to the age of the data and differences in processed foods then and now, but in any case they support the current research, says Rafael Urrialde de Andrés, a professor of biological sciences at the Complutense University of Madrid. “It is important not to include added sugars or excess free sugars from any food source in the first 1,000 days of life.”

Critical period of metabolic development.

To better understand the impact of this study, Dr. Luis Ramirez and pediatric nutritionist Maria Gomez explained how early sugar consumption affects children’s health.

Ramirez emphasizes that the first thousand days of life are a crucial period when the body is especially sensitive to nutrients. “Consuming sugar at this stage can program the child’s metabolism for the rest of his life. As the body develops, it establishes its glucose regulation mechanisms, and if they are exposed to large amounts of sugar, they are at increased risk of developing insulin resistance and eventually diabetes.

He says it’s important that parents understand that limiting sugar doesn’t just mean avoiding obvious sugary foods, but also identifying hidden sources of sugar in common foods such as packaged juices or processed baby foods.

Gomez emphasizes the importance of a varied and balanced diet for infants and young children. To help parents keep their children’s diet sugar-free, she recommends alternatives such as fresh fruits and vegetables and emphasizes the importance of limiting exposure to processed foods. “The key is to avoid not only added sugar, but also free sugars found in foods such as baby cereals and packaged compotes.” explains.

Both respondents offer practical measures for selling a house:

1. Read labels

Read food labels to identify hidden sources of sugar (sucrose, fructose, maltose, glucose, corn syrup, agave syrup).

2. Avoid juices and sugary drinks.

Water and breast milk or formula are the best form of hydration for babies.

3. Use fruits as natural sweeteners.

Instead of sugar, you can use a banana or apple, which naturally sweeten it.

4. Promote a slow introduction to sweet tastes.

When introducing solid foods, start with less intense flavors, such as whole grains or vegetable purees.

5. Establish a feeding schedule without sweet treats.

Don’t offer candy as an incentive for good behavior or eating.

6. Lead by example

Children learn by watching adults, so maintaining a balanced diet with low sugar intake has a positive effect on their food preferences. (F)