Amount and Frequency of Added Sugars Intake and Their Associations with Dental Caries in United States Adults

School-Level Socioeconomic Status and Nutrient Content of Outdoor Food/Beverage Advertisements

We examined if areas around schools with more students of lower socioeconomic status (SES) have more total food/beverage advertisements and/or more advertisements with poorer nutritional content as compared to areas around schools with fewer students with lower SES. All outdoor food/beverage advertisements within a half-mile radius of 47 middle and high schools in the United States were objectively documented in 2012 and coded for nutritional content. The total number of advertisements and the macronutrient and micronutrient contents (total calories, fat (g), protein (g), carbohydrate (g), sugar (g), and sodium (mg)) of food and beverage items depicted in the advertisements were calculated. In total, 9132 unique advertisements were recorded, with 3153 ads displaying food and beverages that could be coded for nutrient content. Schools located in areas of lower SES (≥60% students receiving free/reduced-price lunch) had significantly more advertisements displaying food and beverages that could be coded for nutrient content (z = 2.01, p = 0.04), as well as advertisements that contained more sodium (z = 2.20, p = 0.03), as compared to schools located in areas of higher SES. There were no differences in calorie, fat, protein, carbohydrate, or sugar content. Policies to reduce the prevalence of outdoor food and beverage advertising are warranted.

Association Between the SLC2A2 Gene rs1499821 Polymorphism and Caries Susceptibility

Objectives: This study was designed to analyze the association between the SLC2A2 rs1499821 polymorphism and caries susceptibility in the Chinese Han, Zhuang, and Baikuyao populations. Materials and Methods: The present case-control study included 1067 12-year-old children: 481 with caries (142 Han, 166 Zhuang and 173 Baikuyao) and 586 who were caries-free (135 Han, 178 Zhuang and 273 Baikuyao). Questionnaires about diet and oral habits were obtained from all subjects. All of the children received dental examinations and DNA collection. The SLC2A2 rs1499821 SNP was genotyped using the SNPscan technique. Results: The rs1499821 T polymorphism was significantly associated with caries susceptibility in both the Han population and the combined populations of the three ethnic subgroups. SLC2A2 rs1499821 was associated with caries susceptibility in the dominant model in the Han (p = 0.045) population and the combined (p = 0.038) group. The CT+TT genotypes at rs1499821 were associated with a higher risk of caries in the Han (OR = 1.69, adjusted 95% CI: 1.01-2.81) and combined (OR = 1.33, adjusted 95% CI: 1.02-1.74) populations. In both Han (p = 0.009) and the combined populations (p = 0.004), there were statistically significant associations between the frequency of sweet food intake and dental caries. However, the rs1499821 polymorphisms did not associate with the frequency of sweet food intake in these ethnic subgroups. Conclusion: In the Han population, the SLC2A2 rs1499821 T allele and the frequency of sweet food intake may be regarded as risk factors for caries susceptibility. The SLC2A2 rs1499821 T allele had no association with the frequency of sweet food intake in any of the three ethnic groups.

Meeting the Healthy People 2030 Added Sugars Target

INTRODUCTION

Many Americans exceed the dietary recommendations for added sugars. Healthy People 2030 set a population target mean of 11.5% calories from added sugars for persons aged ≥2 years. This paper describes the reductions needed in population groups with varying added sugars intake to meet this target using 4 different public health approaches.

METHODS

Data from the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n=15,038) and the National Cancer Institute method were used to estimate the usual percentage calories from added sugars. Four approaches investigated lowering intake among (1) the general U.S. population, (2) people exceeding the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation for added sugars (≥10% calories/day), (3) high consumers of added sugars (≥15% calories/day), or (4) people exceeding the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation for added sugars with 2 different reductions on the basis of added sugars intake. Added sugars intake was examined before and after reduction by sociodemographic characteristics.

RESULTS

To meet the Healthy People 2030 target using the 4 approaches, added sugars intake needs to decrease by an average of (1) 13.7 calories/day for the general population; (2) 22.0 calories/day for people exceeding the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation; (3) 56.6 calories/day for high consumers; or (4) 13.9 and 32.3 calories/day for people consuming 10 to <15% and ≥15% calories from added sugars, respectively. Differences in added sugars intake were observed before and after reduction by race/ethnicity, age, and income.

CONCLUSIONS

The Healthy People 2030 added sugars target is achievable with modest reductions in added sugars intake, ranging from 14 to 57 calories/day depending on the approach.