lIMIT INTAKE OF FOODS CONTAINING SATuRATED FAT, ADDED SAlT, ADDED SuGARS AND AlCOHOl
77Guideline 3
3.3.2 The evidence for ‘limit intake of foods and drinks containing added sugars’
All previous Australian dietary guidelines have recommended restricting added sugars. There has been little
change in the evidence linking added sugars with dental caries, but the targeted literature review found
strengthened evidence for a relationship between sugar-sweetened drinks and excess weight gain.
Table 3.5: Evidence statements for ‘limit intake of foods and drinks containing added sugars’
Evidence statement Grade
Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with increased risk of weight gain in adults and children. B
High or frequent consumption of added sugars, particularly for infants and young children, is associated with increased risk
of dental caries.
C
Consumption of soft drink is associated with increased risk of dental caries in children. C
Consumption of soft drinks is associated with increased risk of reduced bone strength. C
Notes: Grades – A: convincing association, B: probable association, C: suggestive association
Includes evidence statements and gradings from the Evidence Report (literature from years 2002–2009). Does not include evidence from
other sources, such as the 2003 edition of the dietary guidelines (in which individual studies were classified according to their design as
level I, II or III but overall grades for relationships were not derived), although these sources have been used to inform these Guidelines.
Grade C evidence statements showing no association and all Grade D statements can be found in Appendix E.
Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and excess weight
• Cardiovascular disease: There is no new evidence that sugars play a causal role in the development or
moderation of cardiovascular risk factors. Early studies suggested that reducing dietary sucrose could lower
elevated triglyceride levels, but it is likely that the effects were the result of a reduction in energy intake and
body weight.^759
• Type 2 diabetes: Insufficient studies were identified to develop an evidence statement for intake of sugars and
type 2 diabetes.760,761 However, more recent studies indicate that sugar-sweetened drinks may increase the risk
of developing type 2 diabetes.^762 A recent meta-analysis also supports an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and
the metabolic syndrome from consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks.^763
• Excess weight: Recent studies show evidence of a probable association between sugar-sweetened drinks and
weight gain in adults and children (Grade B; Evidence Report, Section 15.1).185-196 A more recent longitudinal
study also strengthens the evidence associating sugar-sweetened drinks with weight gain.^764
• There is insufficient consistent evidence available to form an evidence statement about fruit juices and weight
gain. Some studies found no association in children,193,217,218,585 while two studies in children186,765 and one in
adults^766 did find an association. Children drinking less fruit juice^206 and those consuming more fruit^194 had lower
BMI Z-scores, and children at risk of becoming overweight had a higher risk of gaining fat if they consumed
fruit juice.^186
• No large studies have measured the long-term development of overweight and obesity specifically related to
consumption of sugars, although one retrospective cohort study reported that adults who consumed fewer
sugar-sweetened foods had less increase in skinfold fat and waist circumference over a 5-year period
(Evidence Report, Section 14.3).^206
Cancer
There is evidence suggesting that consumption of sucrose is not associated with risk of cancer (Grade C;
Evidence Report, Section 14.1).767-771 The WCRF report found no convincing or probable evidence of increased
risk of all cancers with the intake of sugars, but some limited evidence of an association between a high intake
of sugars and increased risk of colorectal cancer (see Appendix F).^43 The most recent WCRF statements urge
caution with energy-dense foods and sugar-sweetened drinks because of their association with obesity and its
link with some cancers (see Appendix F).^43