Intakes of Added Sugars, with a Focus on Beverages and the Associations with Micronutrient Adequacy in US Children, Adolescents, and Teens (NHANES 2003-2018)

Laurie Ricciuto; Victor L Fulgoni 3rd; P Courtney Gaine; Maria O Scott; Loretta DiFrancesco

doi:10.3390/nu15153285

Intakes of Added Sugars, with a Focus on Beverages and the Associations with Micronutrient Adequacy in US Children, Adolescents, and Teens (NHANES 2003-2018)

Nutrients. 2023 Jul 25;15(15):3285. doi: 10.3390/nu15153285.

Authors

Laurie Ricciuto¹, Victor L Fulgoni 3rd², P Courtney Gaine³, Maria O Scott³, Loretta DiFrancesco⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada.
² Nutrition Impact, LLC, Battle Creek, MI 49014, USA.
³ The Sugar Association, Inc., Washington, DC 20005, USA.
⁴ Source! Nutrition, Toronto, ON M6S 5A6, Canada.

Abstract

Added sugars intake from sweetened beverages among children, adolescents, and teens is a public health concern. This study examined the relationships between added sugars intake from specific types of beverages with added sugars and from the rest of the diet (excluding beverages with added sugars) and micronutrient adequacy among US children, adolescents, and teens. Data from eight consecutive 2 y cycles of NHANES were combined (2003-04 through 2017-18), and regression analysis was conducted to test for trends in quantiles of added sugars intake from each beverage source (soft drinks, fruit drinks, sport and energy drinks, coffee and tea, and flavored milk) and the rest of the diet (excluding those beverages) and micronutrient adequacy among children (2-8 y) and adolescents and teens (9-18 y). Among those aged 2-8 y, higher added sugars from flavored milk were associated with lower percentages below the estimated average requirement (EAR) for calcium. Among those aged 9-18 y, higher added sugars from soft drinks or coffee and tea were associated with higher percentages below the EAR for magnesium and vitamins A and C. In contrast, higher added sugars from fruit drinks or flavored milk were associated with lower percentages below the EAR (higher percentages above the adequate intake (AI)) for vitamin C (fruit drinks) and calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin A, and potassium (flavored milk). Regarding the rest of the diet, higher added sugars were associated with lower percentages below the EAR (higher percentages above the AI) for most micronutrients examined. The results suggest that the relationship between added sugars intake and micronutrient adequacy depends on the added sugar sources and their nutrient composition. Continued monitoring of sweetened beverage consumption, including beverage type, and the association with added sugars intake, micronutrient adequacy, and diet quality is warranted, given the changes in consumption and product development over time.

Keywords: NHANES; US; added sugars; adolescents; children; micronutrient adequacy; micronutrient intake; sweetened beverages.

Grants and funding

The funding for this research was provided by The Sugar Association, Inc. P.C.G. and M.O.S. are employed by The Sugar Association Inc., had input in the study design, and reviewed and edited the manuscript. The Sugar Association, Inc. had no restrictions regarding publication. The views expressed in the manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of The Sugar Association, Inc.