The April 2023 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition features a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis that illustrate the need for nuance in public health guidance related to sugar consumption.

Evolving evidence has indicated that the effect of fructose-containing sugars on adiposity may vary among food sources. For example, research has consistently shown that consuming sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) at excess calorie levels leads to increased body weight and elevated obesity risk. Yet, evidence is unclear about the potential impact on adiposity related to the consumption of other food sources of fructose-containing sugars such as fruit, which are associated with numerous health-promoting benefits. To help inform evidence-based public health recommendations, the American Society for Nutrition commissioned this systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials to better understand the effect of different food sources of fructose-containing sugars at various levels of energy control on body weight and other measures of adiposity, using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Speakers

Connie Weaver, PhD
San Diego State University

John Sievenpiper, MD, PhD, FRCP(C)
Professor/Lecturer, University of Toronto 

Laura Chiavaroli MSc, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto