Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Increasing Sugar Consumption may Increase Your Risk of Diabetes

by Dr. Enozia Vakil on March 4, 2013 at 11:45 AM
 Increasing Sugar Consumption may Increase Your Risk of Diabetes

Excessive sugar consumption could cause weight gain and obesity, which are precursors for diabetes, says study.

But now the results of a large epidemiological study have suggested sugar may also have a direct, independent link to diabetes.

Advertisement

Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine, the University of California-Berkeley and the University of California-San Francisco examined data on sugar availability and diabetes rates from 175 countries over the past decade.

After accounting for obesity and a large array of other factors, the researchers found that increased sugar in a population's food supply was linked to higher diabetes rates, independent of obesity rates.
Advertisement

The study provides the first large-scale, population-based evidence for the idea that not all calories are equal from a diabetes-risk standpoint, said Sanjay Basu, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center and the study's lead author.

"We're not diminishing the importance of obesity at all, but these data suggest that at a population level there are additional factors that contribute to diabetes risk besides obesity and total calorie intake, and that sugar appears to play a prominent role," he noted.

Specifically, more sugar was correlated with more diabetes: For every additional 150 calories of sugar available per person per day, the prevalence of diabetes in the population rose 1 percent, even after controlling for obesity, physical activity, other types of calories and a number of economic and social variables. A 12-ounce can of soda contains about 150 calories of sugar. In contrast, an additional 150 calories of any type caused only a 0.1 percent increase in the population's diabetes rate.

Not only was sugar availability correlated to diabetes risk, but the longer a population was exposed to excess sugar, the higher its diabetes rate after controlling for obesity and other factors. In addition, diabetes rates dropped over time when sugar availability dropped, independent of changes to consumption of other calories and physical activity or obesity rates.

The findings do not prove that sugar causes diabetes, Basu emphasized, but do provide real-world support for the body of previous laboratory and experimental trials that suggest sugar affects the liver and pancreas in ways that other types of foods or obesity do not.

The researchers had to rely on food-availability data for this study instead of consumption data because no large-scale international databases exist to measure food consumption directly.

Basu said follow-up studies are needed to examine possible links between diabetes and specific sugar sources, such as high-fructose corn syrup or sucrose, and also to evaluate the influence of specific foods, such as soft drinks or processed foods.

Another important future step, he said, is to conduct randomized clinical trials that could affirm a cause-and-effect connection between sugar consumption and diabetes.

Their study has been published in PLOS ONE.

Source: ANI
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Diabetes News

Increased Type 2 Diabetes Risk in Children
The rising incidence of type 2 diabetes among children underscores a significant and worrying health shift.
Kick Smoking, Cut Your Diabetes Risk By Half
Engaging in smoking also heightens the likelihood of complications associated with diabetes, including cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and blindness.
Australian Guidelines Unveiled for Diabetes-Related Foot Disease Care
Recently compiled guidelines originating in Australia for foot diseases related to diabetes have been consolidated.
Diabetes and Air Pollution: A Dangerous Duo for Health Complications
An expert emphasized the significance of protecting diabetic patients from the increasing levels of air pollution.
India Secures Second Place in Global Diabetes Estimates
Factors such as dining out, industrialization, migration to urban areas, and other elements contribute to the heightened susceptibility of Indians to diabetes.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Increasing Sugar Consumption may Increase Your Risk of Diabetes Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests