Sucrose intake in Germany

The present investigation reevaluated the German National Food Consumption Survey in order to obtain data on sucrose intake and food sources of sucros e intake in Germany. Moreover, it focused on the effect of sucrose intake o n nutrient intake. By means of the food composition data base Bundeslebensmittleschlussel, Ver sion II.2,7-days dietary records of a representative sample of 15 838 perso ns aged 4 years and older were analyzed. The relation between sucrose and n utrients intake was investigated by variance and regression analyses. Low, moderate, and high sucrose intake categories were defined by means of sucro se density quartiles and comparisons were made for the percentages of perso ns meeting the German nutrient intake recommendations. Mean daily sucrose intake ranges between 43.2 g/d (f, 51-64 years) and 82.3 g/d (m, 13-14 years). The mean contribution of sucrose to total energy int ake is highest with 14 % in young age (4-6 years) and decreases to 9 % and 7 % in 51-64 year old women and men, respectively. The food groups "table s ugar", "confectionery and ice cream", "biscuits, cake and pastries", "prese rves", "dairy products", and ''non-alcoholic beverages" are the main sucros e sources with varying importance in different age groups. The average amou nt of naturally occuring sucrose in the Germans' diet is estimated to 15-25 % of total sucrose intake. Sucrose contributes 80-90 % to total disacchari des intake in Germany. With each gram of sucrose the intake of energy rises on the average by 12.5 kcal (52.4 kJ), of protein by 0.3 g (9 % of the energy increase), of fat b y 0.5 g (34 %), and of carbohydrates by 1.8 g (57 %.). Consequently, the hi gher the sucrose content of a diet, the lower is the contribution of fat to total energy intake. In contrast, the energy-adjusted effect of sucrose wa s found to be negative for energy-providing nutrients (except mono- and dis accharides) as well as for all the selected micronutrients, except calcium, vitamin E, vitamin C, and dietary fiber. Accordingly, the comparison betwe en moderate and high sucrose consumers revealed a lower percentage of perso ns meeting nutrient intake recommendations in the high sucrose category und er the condition of a comparable energy intake. This unfavorable effect of high sucrose intake is most prominent in 4-6 year old boys and girls as the groups with the highest sucrose intake. Since from the present data no exa ct figure for a sucrose or sugars intake recommendation can be deduced, it is suggested to keep on the WHO recommendation for a moderate sugar intake of 10 % of energy intake.