DIETARY-COMPOSITION AND BODY-MASS INDEX AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ADDED SUGAR CONSUMPTION - THE VIGHOR STUDY

Motivation and objective. Little information is available on the effec ts of added sugar (sucrose) consumption on body mass index (BMI) and n utrient intakes of South Africans following typical Western diets, hig h in fat, low in fibre, and often inadequate in micronutrients. This p aper investigates these relationships in a sub-group of randomly selec ted white men (N=151) and women (N = 161) aged 15 - 64 years, who part icipated in the VIGHOR project. Subjects and methods. Dietary intakes were assessed with a 24-hour recall method and converted to nutrients using the MRC's food composition tables. BMI was calculated (kg/m(2)). The linear relationships of added sugar intake with BMI and macronutr ients were estimated by using partial correlations, controlling for po tential confounding factors such as age, physical activity smoking, al cohol consumption, energy intake and BMI (for macronutrients). The res ults showed that added sugar intake was not associated with BMI and ne gatively associated with fat and protein intake. In men, the associati ons between added sugar intake and most of the micronutrients took on inverse U-run es. Except for vitamin D, however, the micronutrient int akes were still > 67% of;the recommended dietary allowances. Women, pr obably because of their low;energy-intakes, were more prone to nutrien t inadequacies increased sugar intake, especially with regard to fibre , iron, magnesium,, copper; thiamine and vitamin B-6. Recommendation. It is suggested that the message regarding consumption to this populat ion and others moving towards 'westernised' diets should he that added sugars can be consumed in moderation. Women with low energy intakes s hould be cautious not to displace nutrient-and fibre-rich with sugary foods.