Consuming Sugar in Infancy and Earlier Could Mean Diabetes, Hypertension Later. Here’s Why

People who were exposed to less refined sugar during the earliest days of their lives may have better outcomes when it comes to diabetes and hypertension risk decades later, according to research published recently in the journal Science. 

For their study, researchers pulled information from the UK’s biobank — a large, anonymous database of medical information — focusing on people born during the UK’s sugar rationing period during the World War II era. During this period, which lasted into the 1950s, sugar was restricted to what researchers say is currently in line with today’s dietary guidance — roughly less than 40 grams for adults and less than 15 grams for children. After the sugar rationing ended, reports say its consumption doubled.

Comparing people who were conceived shortly before sugar rationing ended with people conceived shortly after, those with early-life sugar rationing had a 35% reduced risk of diabetes and a 20% reduced risk of hypertension (high blood pressure). The findings suggest that both in utero sugar exposure (sugar exposure to a fetus during pregnancy) and early-life sugar consumption when a child is introduced to solid foods may set life-long health trends. 

Katie Thomson, a registered dietitian and co-founder of Square Baby, an organic baby food company, says she was surprised by the study’s impact. 

“This was the first time I’d really seen data behind how much it affects their disease risk later in life, and how it can shape their preferences,” Thomson said, speaking about babies and children. 

Can you expand on a sweet tooth? Tips for picky eaters 

Researchers wrote that the phenomenon may be due to “altering physiological programming in utero” from sugar. Also, being fed sugar as infants and toddlers may lead to “a lifelong preference for sweetness,” they said, suggesting a little taste of sugar may influence our pull toward it later in life when we’re choosing our foods as adults. 

However, the study does not prove what caused the link, and researchers concluded that more research is needed on the effects of early sugar exposure and their “pathways to influencing long-term health.” But whether or not future studies define firmer influences on early sugar or food exposure and health later in life, parents may have more agency than they realize over how daily food choices can affect their kids’ health. 

Thomson called the findings potentially “motivating” for parents in the variety and types of food they may feed their child. However, she acknowledged the pressure many are already under to feed a picky toddler or a kid. 

“Parents feel stress about every single decision,” Thomson said, cautioning against the feeling of needing to change your child’s diet overnight or get into battles over it. While it’s generally easier to set habits the younger they start, “it’s never too late” to expand a palate, she said. 

Thomson also pointed out potential pitfalls of the popularity of foods that come packaged in pouches for kids: While convenient, kids may become hooked to the point they steer clear of other foods. For tips on getting your kids accustomed to eating a variety of foods, Thomson suggested incorporating them into meals in a more obvious way. For example, while adding sweet potato to brownies does make them more nutritious, the flavor and experience of the sweet potato are completely hidden that way. 

Instead, try adding a totally new vegetable to pizza as a topping, or pairing a new food with something they already love in a way that doesn’t hide it. 

In general, focus on the “meaningful, small changes” you can make to a diet, Thomson said. And this can apply to children and adults alike. “Think about those small wins.”