Background: Dietary sugars are often linked to the development of overweight and type 2 diabetes (T2D) but inconsistencies remain.
Objective: We investigated associations of added, free, and total sugars, and glycaemic index (GI) with indices of glucose metabolism (IGM) and indices of body fatness (IBF) during a 3-year weight loss maintenance intervention.
Design: The PREVIEW (PREVention of diabetes through lifestyle Intervention and population studies in Europe and around the World) study was a randomised controlled trial designed to test the effects of four diet and physical activity interventions, after an 8-week weight-loss period, on the incidence of T2D. This secondary observational analysis included pooled data assessed at baseline (8), 26, 52, 104 and 156 weeks from 514 participants with overweight/obesity (age 25-70 year; BMI ≥ 25 kg⋅m-2) and with/without prediabetes in centres that provided data on added sugars (Sydney and Helsinki) or free sugars (Nottingham). Linear mixed models with repeated measures were applied for IBF (total body fat, BMI, waist circumference) and for IGM (fasting insulin, HbA1c, fasting glucose, C-peptide). Model A was adjusted for age and intervention centre and Model B additionally adjusted for energy, protein, fibre, and saturated fat.
Results: Total sugars were inversely associated with fasting insulin and C-peptide in all centres, and free sugars were inversely associated with fasting glucose and HbA1c (Model B: all p < 0.05). Positive associations were observed between GI and IGM (Model B: fasting insulin, HbA1c, and C-peptide: (all p < 0.01), but not for added sugars. Added sugar was positively associated with body fat percentage and BMI, and GI was associated with waist circumference (Model B: all p < 0.01), while free sugars showed no associations (Model B: p > 0.05).
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that added sugars and GI were independently associated with 3-y weight regain, but only GI was associated with 3-y changes in glucose metabolism in individuals at high risk of T2D.
Keywords: added sugar; body weight; dietary sugar; glucose metabolism; glycaemic index; overweight; type 2 diabetes.