Health Capsule

Specialists advise that children under the age of two should avoid consuming added sugars. However, many children encounter added sugars much earlier than that—even while still in the womb, as sugar can pass through the mother's bloodstream.

Researchers wanted to understand how early exposure to sugar might impact long-term health. They focused on adults in the UK who were either conceived or born during the period around the end of government-imposed sugar rationing. This rationing began during World War II and kept sugar consumption at levels similar to today’s recommended guidelines. Once the restrictions were lifted, sugar consumption increased significantly.

The study analyzed data from over 60,000 individuals born in the UK between October 1951 and March 1956. Those born before July 1954 likely experienced limited sugar exposure due to ongoing rationing, while those born from July 1954 onward grew up in an environment where sugar was more readily available.

Children who had less exposure to sugar early in life were found to have lower chances of developing conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure much later in adulthood. The health benefits were more noticeable in those who had longer exposure to rationing. Individuals who experienced at least 19 months of reduced sugar intake after birth had a 35% lower risk of developing diabetes and a 20% reduced risk of high blood pressure.

“Opportunities to study how different early-life diets affect long-term health are rare,” says Dr. Tadeja Gracner from the University of Southern California, who headed the research. “The end of sugar rationing offered a unique chance to observe these effects over a span of five to six decades.”