Evaluation of health aspects of sugars contained in carbohydrate sweeteners. Report of Sugars Task Force, 1986
Glinsmann, W.H.; Irausquin, H.; Park, Y.K.
Journal of Nutrition 116(11 Suppl): S1-S216
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 3543257 Document Number: 280368
Estimates of present levels of sugar intake in the USA and of recent trends in nutritive carbohydrate sweetener content of the food supply are reviewed together with recent scientific literature addressing potentially adverse health effects associated with sugar consumption. Several conclusions are drawn, among which are the following: Although eating high-sugar diets may produce adverse effects on glucose tolerance and insulin metabolism, there is no persuasive scientific evidence that sugars at current levels of intake in the USA are an independent risk factor for the development of impaired glucose tolerance. Although there is evidence to support the existence of a subset of "carbohydrate-sensitive" males who have Type IV hyperlipoproteinaemia and an increased insulin response to oral sucrose loads, the existence of a unique risk to this population from carbohydrate sweeteners has not been established. The concept that dietary mono- and disaccharides contribute to glycaemia more than starches is not supported by recent studies which show that glycaemic responses to carbohydrate-containing foods vary according to food source, method of food preparation, meal pattern, the presence of other dietary constituents and physical activity. Current levels of consumption of sugars have not been shown to be an adverse risk factor in terms of blood lipid and lipoprotein profiles for normal persons. There is no conclusive evidence that dietary sugars are an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease in the general population. The theoretical possibility that dietary sugars modify behaviour through effects on neurotransmitter metabolism in the central nervous system has not been documented. The available information supports the conclusion that sugars do not have a unique role in the aetiology of obesity. Evidence exists that sugars as they are consumed in the average American diet contributes to the development of dental caries. Overall, apart from contributing to dental caries, there is no conclusive evidence to show that sugars at their present levels and manner of intake are a hazard to the general public.