Randy P LaComb’s research while affiliated with Agricultural Research Service and other places

About 35 percent of children 2 to 19 years of age met the 2015-2020 DGA recommendation for added sugars, by limiting added sugars intake to less than 10% of total energy for the day. • On average, those who met the recommendation obtained 5.9 percent, and those who did not meet the recommendation obtained 18.5 percent of total energy from added sugars. • Significantly higher percentages of children 2-5 years met the recommendation than the older children. • Sweetened beverages, sweet bakery products, and candy were the top three sources of added sugars in the diet of children who did not meet the DGA added sugars recommendation

Overall, 47 percent of adults, 20 years and over, met the 2015-2020 DGA recommendation for added sugars, by limiting added sugars intake to less than 10% of daily calories. • On average, the adults who met the recommendation obtained 5.1 percent, and the adults who did not meet the recommendation obtained 19.4 percent of total calories from added sugars. • On average, the adults who did not meet the DGA recommendation consumed about four times more added sugars than the adults who met the recommendation. • Sweetened beverages were the top source providing about one-third of added sugars in the males’ diets and about one-fourth of added sugars in the females’ diet.

Objectives: The 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommend that Americans limit their added sugars intake to less than 10% of their total calories (energy) for the day, because the calories obtained from added sugars often come with low nutritional benefits. The research objective was to compare mean intakes of nutritious foods such as fruit, dairy, and whole grains by children grouped based on whether they met the DGA added sugars recommendation or not. Methods: Children ages 2 to 19 years who had complete dietary intake data on day 1 of What We Eat in America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015-2016 were included in the study. They were divided into two groups: (1) those who met the DGA added sugars recommendation; and (2) those who did not meet the recommendation. Energy and selected food group intakes of the two groups were estimated and compared using SAS-callable SUDAAN software, and a p-value less than 0.01 was considered as significantly different. Results: There were 2901 children in the study. Only about one-third of all children (34.8 ± 1.2%), met the added sugars recommendation, and household income did not impact the percentage of children meeting the recommendation. Forty-seven % of 2-5 year old and 31% of 6-19 year old children met the recommendation. The estimated mean added sugars intake of the children who met the recommendation was considerably lower than those who did not meet the recommendation, 6.4 ± 0.23 vs. 21.2 ± 0.51 teaspoon equivalents (eq.), respectively. The children who met the recommendation had significantly lower energy intake than those who did not meet the recommendation, 1764 ± 32 vs. 1924 ± 30 kilocalories, respectively. In spite of their lower energy intake, children who met the recommendation had significantly higher intakes of total fruit, 1.3 ± 0.05 vs. 0.8 ± 0.05 cup eq.; total dairy, 2.1 ± 0.12 vs. 1.8 ± 0.08 cup eq.; and whole grains 1.0 ± 0.07 vs. 0.8 ± 0.04 ounce eq. than the other group. In other words, those who met the recommendation made better food choices by eating nutritious foods for lower energy intake. Conclusions: The study findings showed that high added sugars intake have the potential to replace nutritious foods and reduce the overall quality of the diet, in children. Funding sources: The study was funded by USDA, Agricultural Research Service.

Compares the USDA Food Patterns Equivalents Intakes of Americans from 2003-04 to 2015-16 sing the NHANES dietary survey data

This report highlights the changes in the dietary intakes of selected USDA Food Patterns groups, including added sugars and solid fats, for the U.S. population from What We Eat in America, NHANES 2003-2004 to 2013-14. The nationally representative sample included 8,272 and 8,066 individuals, ages 2 years and over (excluding breast-fed children) with complete and reliable intake records, in the 2003-2004 and 2013-2014 surveys, respectively. Sample weights were applied in the analysis to get nationally representative estimates. The estimated mean daily intake of added sugars by all individuals, ages 2 years and over, substantially decreased by 3.6 teaspoon equivalents (tsp. eq.) or 15 grams. Similarly, substantial reductions were noted among each of the age groups studied: children ages 2-5, 6-11, and 12-19; and adults, ages 20+ years. Although Americans have reduced their added sugars intake, their mean intake is still high when compared to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015-2020 recommendations. The estimated mean intake of solid fats, for all individuals 2 years and over, substantially decreased by 12.3 grams, from 47.6 to 35.3 grams. Similarly, substantial reductions were noted in each of the age groups studied. Changes were noted in the intake of oils. For all individuals, ages 2 years and over, the estimated mean intakes of oils significantly increased by 6.2 grams, from 19.2 to 25.4 grams. Although the whole grains consumption increased from 0.6 to 0.9 ounce equivalents, it was small and was well below the Dietary Guidelines recommendations to eat 50 percent of total grains as whole grains. No changes were noted in the fruit; vegetables; dairy; and total meat, poultry, and seafood intakes from 2003-2004 to 2013-2014. Mean intakes of vegetables, fruit, and dairy foods continued to be low when compared to the Dietary Guidelines recommendations.