Cutting the amount of sugar children get in the womb and as toddlers can protect them against diabetes and high blood pressure in adulthood, research suggests.
The finding reveals a critical period for healthy nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life as babies initially absorb nutrients from their mother and move on to formulas and infant foods.
Scientists found that restricting sugar intake to levels in dietary guidelines in early life was linked to a 35% drop in rates of type 2 diabetes in middle age and a 20% fall in high blood pressure.
A low-sugar diet also appeared to delay the onset of chronic diseases, with diabetes and high blood pressure arising four and two years later respectively in people who had little sugar at the start of life compared with those who consumed much more.
Tadeja Gračner, at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, said: “Exposure to a relatively low-sugar environment in utero and early childhood significantly reduces the diabetes and hypertension risk decades later, as well as delays their onset.”
The researchers took advantage of a natural experiment in the UK when a decade of postwar sugar and sweets rationing ended in 1953. During rationing, the sugar allowance was comparable to levels set in modern dietary guidelines, but consumption nearly doubled soon after the restrictions lifted, from about 40g to 80g a day.
Using UK Biobank data, the scientists compared health in middle age for 38,000 people conceived and born during rationing and 22,000 people conceived soon afterwards.
Their analysis, published in Science, found that rates of diabetes and high blood pressure were substantially lower for those who were conceived and reached two years old during sugar rationing. Time spent in the womb accounted for about one-third of the reduction in risk.
The NHS recommends that free sugars – those added to food and drinks and found naturally in honeys, syrups and unsweetened fruit and vegetable drinks – should not make up more than 5% of daily calories, equivalent to 30g or seven sugar cubes for an adult. There is no guideline for children under four, but they are advised to avoid sugar-sweetened drinks and food with added sugar. On average, Britons consume about twice the recommended daily amount.
Gračner said: “We all want to improve our health and give our children the best start in life, and reducing added sugar early is a powerful step in that direction. But it’s far from easy. Added sugar is everywhere, even in baby and toddler foods, and children are bombarded with TV ads for sugary snacks.
“While improving nutritional literacy among parents and caregivers is key, we should also hold companies accountable to reformulate baby foods with healthier options and regulate the marketing and pricing of sugary foods targeted at kids. With better information, environment and the right incentives, parents can more easily reduce sugar exposure for their kids and themselves.”
Prof Keith Godfrey, from the University of Southampton, said: “This is convincing new evidence, providing further support that reducing exposure of the unborn baby and newborn infant to sugar has lasting benefits that include lowering the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure in later adulthood.
“The findings are in keeping with our research showing lower rates of obesity in the children of mothers who eat low glycaemic index foods during pregnancy that are digested and absorbed more slowly, causing a slower rise in blood sugar levels.”
Dr Nina Rogers, a research fellow at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: “There’s strong evidence that high levels of sugar consumption in children and adults can contribute to poor health, but this new study highlights the importance of a diet low in added sugars at the earliest stages of the life course, during the prenatal period and the first years of life, to protect against poor health in midlife.
“The findings suggest that public health interventions should be developed for this critical period of development to enable easy access to affordable high-quality low-sugar diets.”
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Tadeja Gračner
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Tadeja Gračner, to Time.news. Your recent research sheds light on the importance of sugar intake during the critical early stages of life. Can you start by summarizing your findings for us?
Tadeja Gračner: Thank you for having me! Our research indicates that reducing sugar intake for children while they are still in the womb and during their early years can have profound effects on their long-term health. Specifically, we found that adhering to dietary guidelines for sugar intake during these early stages can significantly lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and hypertension later in life. In fact, individuals who had a low-sugar environment in their formative years experienced a 35% reduction in diabetes rates and a 20% fall in high blood pressure by middle age.
Time.news Editor: That’s particularly striking! You mentioned the concept of a “critical period.” Can you elaborate on why the first 1,000 days of life are so essential for healthy nutrition?
Tadeja Gračner: Absolutely. The first 1,000 days—from conception through the first two years of life—are vital because this is when the foundations of health are being established. During this time, a baby’s body is rapidly developing, and nutritional inputs have a lasting impact. This period is not just about physical growth; it also governs metabolic programming, which can influence health outcomes decades down the line.
Time.news Editor: Your study also utilized data from a unique historical context in the UK following sugar rationing post-World War II. What insights did you draw from that natural experiment?
Tadeja Gračner: Yes, the end of sugar rationing in 1953 provided a unique situation to analyze the long-term health effects of differing sugar consumption. We compared individuals who were conceived and born during rationing—a period when sugar intake was low—with those who were conceived shortly after it ended, when sugar consumption nearly doubled. The results were striking: those exposed to lower sugar levels in early life had significantly lower rates of chronic health issues. It reinforced the idea that early dietary choices have long-lasting impacts.
Time.news Editor: That leads me to the current dietary guidelines. The NHS recommends that free sugars should not exceed 5% of daily calories. Given your findings, do you think these guidelines are sufficient, especially for children under four?
Tadeja Gračner: While the guidelines suggest limiting added sugars, we need to consider the reality that many products targeted at babies and toddlers still contain hidden sugars. The guidelines offer a starting point, but they need to be more strictly followed and publicized. It’s essential to encourage parents to be vigilant about sugar content, as children are often overwhelmed by marketing that promotes sugary snacks. We must create a low-sugar culture to give kids the healthiest start possible.
Time.news Editor: It sounds like there’s a significant gap between guidelines and actual consumption levels. How can we bridge this gap and encourage healthier choices?
Tadeja Gračner: This is indeed a multi-faceted challenge. First, we need clearer labeling on food products to help parents make informed choices easily. Public health campaigns that raise awareness about the risks associated with excessive sugar consumption—especially for children—are crucial. Equally important is advocating for policy changes that regulate advertising of sugary foods targeted at children. Ultimately, it’s about creating an environment that supports healthier eating habits from an early age.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Tadeja, for this enlightening discussion. Your insights are invaluable as we consider how to protect our children’s health in the long run.
Tadeja Gračner: Thank you for having me! It’s been a pleasure discussing this essential topic. Together, we can help shape a healthier future for children.