A study examining historical data from the UK, where sugar was rationed after World War II, found that limiting sugar intake during early life—both in utero and throughout infancy—significantly lowered the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and hypertension in adulthood. Additionally, this sugar restriction appeared to delay the onset of these conditions. By leveraging a unique historical perspective, the researchers were able to isolate sugar consumption from other potential confounding factors, leading them to conclude that early-life sugar restriction could be an effective strategy for promoting long-term health.
A recent study revealed that restricting sugar intake starting in utero reduces the risk and delays the onset of type 2 diabetes and hypertension in adulthood. Adults who experienced early-life sugar rationing in the UK for at least 19 months (including in utero) had a 38% lower risk of type 2 diabetes (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.55-0.69) and a 21% lower risk of hypertension (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.74-0.85) compared to those who never experienced rationing, reported Tadeja Gracner, PhD, from the University of Southern California, at the ObesityWeek annual meeting. These findings were also published in Science.
The researchers noted that in-utero exposure alone accounted for about a third of the overall reduction in risk for type 2 diabetes and hypertension, relative to those exposed both in utero and up to age 1. Moreover, adults who were exposed to sugar rationing from prenatal stages through their first year experienced delays of about four years in type 2 diabetes diagnosis and two years in hypertension diagnosis. John Clark, MD, PhD, from Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group, commented that while the study cannot confirm causation, the clarity of the longitudinal data makes this a compelling addition to the evidence connecting early-life sugar exposure with chronic diseases.
Despite dietary guidelines advising that sugar should constitute less than 10% of an adult’s total energy intake and that children under two should avoid added sugars entirely, 70% of pregnant people reportedly consume above this threshold, averaging about 20 teaspoons per day. Similarly, 61% of infants and 98% of toddlers regularly consume added sugars, with baby foods often containing high levels of sugar. Gracner highlighted that the first 1,000 days of life are crucial for optimal development, and research supports the association between high sugar intake and increased chronic disease risk, as well as a stronger preference for sweetness in adulthood.
Leveraging historical UK data from 1942 to 1953, when sugar was rationed at 6.5% of total daily energy intake, the researchers were able to isolate sugar consumption from other factors. When rationing ended in 1953, sugar intake almost doubled, providing a clear contrast in dietary patterns. Using data from the UK Biobank, the study analyzed type 2 diabetes and hypertension risk among 60,183 adults born before and after the rationing period. Those born from October 1951 to June 1954, who experienced rationing in their early lives, had consistently lower disease risk and delayed onset compared to those born afterward.
For adults exposed only to prenatal sugar rationing, the risk reduction was 16% for type 2 diabetes (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.75-0.95) and 6% for hypertension (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.88-1.00), with delayed diagnoses by 1.46 years for diabetes and 0.53 years for hypertension. Additionally, those exposed to sugar rationing both prenatally and through their first year of life saw a 31% reduced obesity risk compared to non-rationed peers (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.60-0.80).
The researchers concluded that early-life sugar restriction could be a powerful tool for long-term health. This historical study adds depth to the hypothesis that sugar consumption significantly influences the development of chronic diseases, with rationing data offering an unusually clear view of this association in humans.
Early-Life Sugar Restriction Can Reduce Diabetes and Hypertension Risk!