Added sugars may affect heart health risk factors in children

Last week we shared a meta-analysis that concluded that higher levels of sugar intake in an adult's diet were "strongly associated with higher triglycerides, total as well as LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol), and blood pressure." While that study was interested in total sugars and not strictly added sugars, this week's study suggests that those effects are not limited to adults.

Researchers in Alabama recruited 320 racially diverse children between the ages of 7 and 12 from the surrounding area (Am J Clin Nutr 2014; 100:46-52). The children visited the lab (with their parents) on two occasions: the first, to have their body scanned in order to accurately calculate fat mass (instead of using Body Mass Index), to receive an accelerometer to wear for ~1 week (to measure physical activity), and to detail what they had eaten for the last 24 hours (with their parents' assistance).

About a week later the children returned for an overnight stay. They returned their accelerometers and again detailed what they had eaten for the last 24 hours with the help of their parents. Their blood pressure was taken in the evening and again in the morning. Finally, their blood was drawn for a cholesterol screening.

With this information, the researchers were able to estimate not only the amount of added sugars in the children's diets, they could also estimate the amount of total fat, saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol they ate. These results, as well as the physical activity, body fat measurements, gender, and ethnicity, were then correlated with the child's blood pressure and cholesterol scores.

The researchers discovered that more added sugars in a child's diet was positively associated with a slightly higher diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number). This is concerning when you remember that a 5-6 point increase in the diastolic blood pressure in adults may increase the risk of stroke by 67%! More added sugars were also associated with higher triglyceride scores, but interestingly, the total amount of fat in a child's diet was not associated with their triglycerides. The amount of sodium in a child's diet did not seem to affect their blood pressure, either, which the researchers theorized was due to their young age.

What this means for you

This study is correlative - a snapshot in time. This does not show whether added sugars cause blood pressure and cholesterol changes, but given the causal relationship we've recently seen in adults, it would be prudent to watch the amount of added sugars in your child's diet very carefully. The top sources of added sugars in a child's diet are sugar-sweetened beverages, both grain and dairy desserts, breakfast cereals, and candy.

First posted: July 2, 2014