Intake of Liquid and Solid Sucrose in Relation to Changes in Body Fatness over 6 Years among 8- to 10-Year-Old Children: The European Youth Heart Study

Abstract

Objective: To examine if intake of soft drinks is more closely associated with weight gain than other energy sources and if these associations are mediated through differences in energy intake or insulin level. Methods: Data derived from the Danish part of the European Youth Heart Study (n = 359). Height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) were measured in 1997-1998 and again in 2003-2004. Results: Intake of liquid sucrose was associated with changes in waist circumference (ΔWC) (β = 0.226, p = 0.07, R² = 0.17) as well as BMI z-scores (ΔBMI_z) (β = 0.031, p = 0.05, R² = 0.30). Associations attenuated slightly after adjusting for energy intake, but were substantially reduced when adjusting for insulin. Adjustment for both insulin and energy intake attenuated the effect of soft drinks intake on ΔBMI_z, but not on ΔWC. Conclusion: Liquid sucrose seemed more clearly associated with ΔWC and ΔBMI_z than other energy sources. For ΔWC, the association seemed to be based on decreases in insulin sensitivity rather than increases in energy intake, whereas for ΔBMI_z the association seemed to be based on both increases in energy intake and decreases in insulin sensitivity.

Vitamin C decreases the obesogenic and hyperglycemic effect of invert sugar in prediabetic rats

“…Studies have reported that high energy intake is the main cause of excess weight 27 . Sugary beverages increase appetite more than solid foods given the low satiety and incomplete compensation of fluid calories, being an important contributor to higher fat deposition 14,28 . Since vitamin C reduces weight and visceral fat gain 3,4 , it may have helped to reduce weight gain in the study rats.…”

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Obesity Risk in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Analysis on How Methodological Quality May Influence Conclusions

“…12,13,[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] The methodological issues noted were mostly due to the complexity of assessing and measuring dietary intake. Because the majority of these studies were not designed to investigate the influence of SSB consumption on adiposity, the dietary tools used to collect data on SSB consumption were not optimal.…”

“…Among the 32 studies identified to answer our research question, 12 concluded that SSB consumption was associated with an increased risk of obesity in children or adolescents [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] and 13 found mixed results [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] ; for example, increase in girls but not in boys, among overweight children but not normal-weight children, or influence on body mass index (BMI) z score but not body fat percentage. Seven found no association 12,13,[44][45][46][47][48] between SSB consumption and risk of obesity.…”

Sugar-sweetened beverages consumption in relation to changes in body fatness over 6 and 12 years among 9-year-old children: the European Youth Heart Study

“…Subjects were classified as either physically inactive (reported no or sometimes exercise) or physically active (reported regular exercise). The accelerometer measurements were used in a sensitivity analysis that found good agreement with the questionnaire method (24). A computer-based questionnaire was completed by parents to obtain demographic and socioeconomic data.…”