Sugar early in life is the new tobacco: How it impacts onset of chronic diseases

A recent study indicates that reducing sugar intake from early in life can lower the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

In Short

• Feeding too much sugar to children can lead to a higher risk of diabetes later in life
• Too much sugar intake early in life also increases the risk of hypertension
• Chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and hypertension are on the rise

A new study suggests that reducing sugar intake in early life can have a lasting impact on health, potentially cutting the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes and hypertension by as much as 35% and 20%, respectively.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition where the body becomes resistant to insulin (hormone) or doesn’t produce enough, causing high blood sugar levels and increasing risks of heart disease and other complications.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, on the other hand, is a condition where blood flows through arteries at higher-than-normal pressure, straining the heart and blood vessels, and raising risks for heart disease and stroke.

The research published in the journal Science reveals that sugar restrictions from conception through the first two years of life lead to significant long-term health benefits.

Researchers from the USC Dornsife College, McGill University, and UC Berkeley used data from the UK Biobank to study adults who experienced rationed sugar in early childhood during World War II.

In the UK, sugar rationing began in 1942 and continued until 1953, meaning children conceived or born during this period grew up in an environment with limited sugar access.

By comparing health outcomes for those born just before and just after the end of rationing, researchers could assess the impact of early sugar restriction.

The findings showed that people exposed to lower sugar intake in their first 1,000 days, counting from conception, were not only less likely to develop diabetes or hypertension but also experienced a delay in disease onset when they did.

Those who developed diabetes saw it delayed by an average of four years, while hypertension onset was delayed by two years.

"Studying long-term effects of sugar is challenging, but the end of sugar rationing provided a natural experiment to observe different nutrition environments," explained lead author Tadeja Gracner from USC Dornsife.

Following the end of rationing, sugar intake doubled from an average of 8 to 16 teaspoons daily, allowing researchers to compare health outcomes in those who had higher early-life sugar exposure.

The study highlights the high levels of added sugar in children's foods today and advocates for policies that could protect children’s health.

"Parents need information about what works," said Claire Boone from McGill University. “This study provides evidence that reducing sugar early in life can improve long-term health."

Co-author Paul Gertler of UC Berkeley added, "Sugar early in life is the new tobacco. We need to hold food companies accountable and reformulate baby foods with healthier options."

This study is part of a larger research project examining the broader effects of early sugar restriction on adult health and economic outcomes.