Association between free sugars intake and early psychopathological problems.
Núria Voltas, Cristina Jardí, Carmen Hernández-Martínez and 2 others
PMID 36282888WHAT IT FOUND
High free sugar intake at 30 months was associated with more sleep problems, ADHD and anxiety symptoms.
Intake at 12 months showed no link to later psychological problems. The small sample size limits confidence in these findings.
Key findings
01Children with subclinical or clinical sleep problems and ADHD symptoms at 30 months had consumed significantly more free sugars than those in the normal range.
02Free sugar intake at 12 months was not related to the subsequent development of psychopathological problems at 30 months.
03Regression models showed that high free sugar consumption at 30 months, along with low socioeconomic status and other factors, was associated with anxiety, depression and attention problems.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (n=86), which the authors state may explain the lack of significant findings in some areas. The study could not determine causality; it is unclear whether sugar intake causes behavioural problems or if children with these problems consume more sugar. Information on whether parents had a formal mental health diagnosis was missing, though parental distress was measured. The cohort was recruited between 2006 and 2009, so dietary patterns and food products may have changed since then.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest and received no financial support for the research.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these associations as proof that sugar causes ADHD or anxiety. The study is cross-sectional at 30 months for these outcomes, meaning sugar intake and symptoms were measured at the same time, so it is impossible to know which came first. Additionally, the small sample size and multiple statistical tests mean these findings require confirmation in larger studies.