Plain language summary
Levels of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are increasing at shocking levels world-wide. With these statistics, researchers have looked at nutrition to give possible answers. Recent attention has focused on the consumption of sugars such as sucrose, glucose and sugars containing fructose. Some studies have linked consumption of added sugars to increased risk of weight gain and obesity, increased risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and increased risk factors for diabetes, metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The purpose of this review is to present data from recent studies related to sugar consumption and its presumed health effects. The authors conclude that high quality evidence does not support a unique link between added sugars and various adverse health effects when consumed at normal levels, particularly in isocaloric settings. Further studies are needed.
Abstract
The relationship between sugar consumption and various health-related sequelas is controversial. Some investigators have argued that excessive sugar consumption is associated with increased risk of obesity, coronary heart disease, diabetes (T2D), metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and stimulation of reward pathways in the brain potentially causing excessive caloric consumption. These concerns have influenced organizations such as the World Health Organization, the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition in England not to exceed 5 % of total energy and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committee 2015 to recommend upper limits of sugar consumption not to exceed 10 % of calories. Data from many randomized control trials (RCTs) do not support linkages between sugar consumption at normal levels within the human diet and various adverse metabolic and health-related effects. Fructose and glucose are typically consumed together in roughly equal proportions from high-fructose corn syrup (also known as isoglucose in Europe) or sucrose. The purpose of this review is to present data from recent RCTs and findings from recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses related to sugar consumption and its putative health effects. This review evaluates findings from recent randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyses into the relationship of sugar consumption and a range of health-related issues including energy-regulating hormones, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and accumulation of liver fat and neurologic responses. Data from these sources do not support linkages between sugar consumption at normal levels within the human diet and various adverse metabolic and health-related effects.
Methodological quality
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