Is too much sugar bitter? The impacts of sugars on health

Abstract

This paper reviews the associations between sugars consumption and non-communicable diseases. Systematic reviews demonstrate associations between sugars intake and dental caries, weight gain, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Children consuming more sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are 1.55 times more likely to be overweight. In adults, higher consumption of SSBs is associated with a 27% higher relative risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In adults, greater free sugar consumption was positively associated with total CVD (HR 1.07; 95% CI: 1.03–1.10), ischaemic heart disease (HR 1.06; 95%CI: 1.02,1.10), and stroke (HR 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.17). Those consuming sugars higher than the recommended level of 10% of total energy are more likely to develop dental caries; 42 out of 50 studies involving children and 5 out of 5 in adults reported at least one positive association between sugars and caries. Reduction in sugars consumption requires a myriad of interventions to reduce supply and demand at national and global levels, fiscal policies, alongside high-quality research and promoting environments to reduce the burden of NCDs.