New research examining post-World War II sugar rationing data reveals significant reductions in diabetes and hypertension risk when sugar intake is restricted during the crucial first 1,000 days of life, from conception through age two.
A groundbreaking study published in Science (31 October 2024) [1] has demonstrated that restricting sugar consumption during pregnancy and early childhood can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 35% and hypertension by 20% in later life. The research capitalises on the unique circumstances of sugar rationing in the United Kingdom during and after World War II to provide robust evidence of the long-term health implications of early-life sugar consumption.
Natural experiment from wartime rationing
The research team, led by senior economist Tadeja Gracner from the USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research, utilised the UK’s wartime sugar rationing programme as a natural experiment. The programme, which lasted from 1942 to September 1953, restricted sugar consumption to approximately 8 teaspoons (40 grams) per day. Following the end of rationing, sugar consumption doubled almost immediately to 16 teaspoons (80 grams) daily.
“Studying the long-term effects of added sugar on health is challenging,” says Gracner. “It is hard to find situations where people are randomly exposed to different nutritional environments early in life and follow them for 50 to 60 years. The end of rationing provided us with a novel natural experiment to overcome these problems.”
The researchers analysed data from the UK Biobank, comparing health outcomes of individuals conceived or born just before and after the end of sugar rationing. The findings revealed that those who experienced sugar restrictions during their first 1,000 days of life not only had lower disease risk but also showed delayed onset of conditions when they did develop. For those diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension, the onset was delayed by four and two years, respectively.
Protective effects begin in utero
A particularly significant finding was that exposure to sugar restrictions during pregnancy alone was sufficient to provide protective effects, accounting for approximately one-third of the observed risk reduction. However, the greatest benefits were seen in individuals who experienced sugar restriction both before and after birth, with protection increasing notably after six months of age when solid foods were typically introduced.
Contemporary relevance
The wartime sugar rationing levels align closely with current dietary guidelines from the US Department of Agriculture and the World Health Organization, which recommend no added sugars for children under two and a maximum of 12 teaspoons (50g) of added sugar daily for adults. This correlation adds weight to the contemporary relevance of the findings.
Study co-author Claire Boone of McGill University and the University of Chicago emphasises the practical implications: “Parents need information about what works, and this study provides some of the first causal evidence that reducing added sugar early in life is a powerful step towards improving children’s health over their lifetimes.”
Economic implications
The findings have significant economic implications for healthcare systems. Earlier diabetes diagnosis is associated with significantly reduced life expectancy, with each decade earlier diagnosis resulting in a three to four year reduction in life expectancy.
Co-author Paul Gertler of UC Berkeley and the National Bureau of Economics Research draws a stark comparison: “Sugar early in life is the new tobacco, and we should treat it as such by holding food companies accountable to reformulate baby foods with healthier options and regulate the marketing and tax sugary foods targeted at kids.”
The research team is continuing their investigations into the broader implications of early-life sugar restrictions, including effects on education, wealth, chronic inflammation, cognitive function, and dementia.
Reference:
- Gracner T, et al. (2024). Exposure to sugar rationing in the first 1000 days of life protected against chronic disease. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/5421
