Back in December we highlighted a review by Moynihan and Kelly (Dental Elf – 12^th Dec 2013) on the relationship between caries and sugars that was commissioned to inform the development of updated WHO recommendations on sugar.  Another review of the relationship between sugar and body weight by  Te Morenga et al  was also undertaken to inform the recommendations which was discussed by the Lifestyle Elf ( 21^st Jan 2013) .

The WHO’s current recommendation, from 2002, is that sugars should make up less than 10% of total energy intake per day.

The new draft guideline also proposes that sugars should be less than 10% of total energy intake per day. However, it goes on to suggest that a reduction to below 5% of total energy intake per day would have additional benefits. Five per cent of total energy intake is equivalent to around 25 grams (around 6 teaspoons) of sugar per day for an adult of normal Body Mass Index (BMI).

This was reported by the BBC as  “WHO: Daily sugar intake should be halved.”

A good summary is available on the NHS Choices website  and comments on the new draft guideline can be made on the WHO website up to the end of March by anyone happy to sign a declaration of interest from

Links

WHO- Draft Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children

Dental Elf – 12^th Dec 2013 – Detailed review finds that restricting free sugar intake reduces caries development

Lifestyle Elf – 21^st Jan 2013 – No such thing as just a spoonful of sugar: new research on eating too much of it and its links with weight gain

 BBC  5th March – WHO: Daily sugar intake should be halved

NHS Choices – WHO says halving sugar target has extra benefit