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An umbrella review of 73 meta-analyses evaluated the health impacts of sugar consumption, revealing significant associations between high dietary sugar intake and various diseases, such as obesity, heart disease, and certain cancers. Despite the low quality of much of the evidence, researchers recommend limiting free sugar intake to less than 25 grams (about six teaspoons) per day and restricting consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages to under one serving per week. The review highlighted detrimental links to 45 health outcomes, including diabetes, depression, and asthma. Strong evidence indicated that sugar negatively affects metabolic and cardiovascular health, while moderate evidence associated sugary beverages with increased body weight. Additionally, low-quality data suggested incremental risks for gout, coronary heart disease, and pancreatic cancer linked to sugar intake. Notably, there were no reliable beneficial associations found with dietary sugar, reinforcing the need for caution regarding any potential positive impacts. The researchers advocate for global public health education and policy reforms aimed at reducing sugar consumption, particularly among children and adolescents. They emphasize the necessity of assessing the evidence quality before implementing targeted policies. The study was published in The BMJ and funded by Chinese research institutions.
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