Expert Opinion / Commentary · August 04, 2015
Written by Wahida Karmally DrPH, RD, CDE, CLS, FNLA

Sugar is on the FDA “generally recognized as safe” list despite the growing body of evidence that sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is detrimental to health and has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease mortality,1 hypertension,2,3 liver lipogenesis,4 type 2 diabetes (T2DM),5-7 and kidney disease.8 SSBs include a variety of drinks, including soft drinks, fruit drinks, sweetened flavored milk, energy drinks, and vitamin water drinks. These have gained popularity globally.

O’Conner and colleagues, in an article published in May in Diabetologia9 add an important dimension to the health effects of SSBs relevant to the entire population. They concluded that, independently of adiposity, SSBs, including sweetened milk beverages, were associated with increased risk for T2DM. The study estimated the population impact of consuming SSB; 3% to 15% of incident diabetes cases might be prevented if consumers decreased sugar intake to a range between 2% and 10% of total energy intake. AHA and WHO have recommendations for sugar that fall within this range.10,11

Strategies to increase awareness of sugar content of SSBs as well as sweetened milk beverages with warning labels are widely debated. Research related to tobacco has shown that warning labels have a positive effect in informing the consumers of risks and prompting behavior change.12 Tackling over-consumption requires multiple policy approaches. Children need parental guidance to help them consume nutrient-dense drinks that are enjoyable.

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