Limiting sugar in childhood reduces risk of heart attack and stroke

This is the conclusion reached by researchers who published a paper in The BMJ after analysing unique data on the UK sugar rationing system, which was abolished in 1953.

The greatest effect was seen in people whose sugar intake was restricted from the period of intrauterine development until the age of two. They had a 20-30 per cent reduced risk of developing various heart and vascular diseases, and the problems themselves manifested themselves 2.5 years later compared to those who were not subject to such a restriction.

The scientists used data from UK Biobank - a database of biomedical data of more than 63 thousand people born between October 1951 and March 1956. Of these, 40,063 participants were born while sugar rationing was in effect, and 23,370 were born after it was abolished. The study was a so-called "natural experiment" to assess the long-term effects of early sugar restriction.

According to the results, people whose sugar intake was restricted in the first 1,000 days of life (from conception to two years of age) had a 20 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular disease, a 25 per cent lower risk of heart attack, a 26 per cent lower risk of heart failure, a 31 per cent lower risk of stroke and a 27 per cent lower risk of cardiovascular mortality. A longer duration of healthy heart function was also noted.

The authors of the study emphasise that at the time of rationing in the UK, the daily allowance of sugar was less than 40g, and children under the age of two were not allowed to be given foods with added sugar at all. These measures actually coincide with modern dietary recommendations, especially for infants and toddlers.

Although the study is observational and does not allow for definite conclusions about causality, its scale and design allowed the scientists to separately analyse the effects of different periods of exposure to the restrictions. In addition, an external control group was used - adults born outside the UK where no similar measures were used.

The researchers emphasise the importance of developing personalised heart disease prevention strategies that take into account diet, genetics, lifestyle and environment.

"Our results highlight the benefits of policies that focus on sugar restriction in the early years of life. These interventions can have a significant impact on future heart health," the authors conclude.