Time and Age Trends in Free Sugar Intake from Food Groups among Children and Adolescents between 1985 and 2016

Abstract

Trend analyses suggest that free sugar (FS) intake-while still exceeding 10%E-has decreased among German children and adolescents since 2005, yet that intakes may shift from sugars naturally occurring in foods to added sugars as children age. Thus, we analysed time and age trends in FS intake (%E) from <i>food groups</i> among 3-18 year-olds (1985-2016) using 10,761 3-day dietary records from 1312 DONALD participants (660 boys, 652 girls) by use of polynomial mixed-effects regression models. Among girls, FS from <i>sugar & sweets</i> decreased from 1985 to 2016 (linear trend <i>p</i> < 0.0001), but not among boys (<i>p</i> > 0.05). In the total sample, FS intake from <i>juices</i> increased until 2000 and decreased since 2005 (linear, quadratic trend <i>p</i> < 0.0001). FS from <i>sugar sweetened beverages (SSB)</i> decreased non-linearly from 1985 to 2016 (girls: linear, quadratic, cubic trend <i>p</i> < 0.0001; boys: linear, quadratic, cubic trend <i>p</i> < 0.02). Younger children consumed more FS from <i>juices</i> than older ones, who had a higher FS intake from <i>SSB</i>. FS intake from <i>sugar & sweets</i> increased until early adolescence and decreased afterwards. Since <i>sugar & sweets</i> represent the main source of FS intake and the source with the least pronounced decline in intake, public health measures should focus on these products.