Early Life Added Sugars and Associated Appetite, Satiety, Growth and Adiposity in the First 2 Years of Life.

Added sugar intake and its contribution to total energy increased with age in children under 2 years.

• Data were analysed from 248 mother-child pairs from the MAS-Lactancia birth cohort.
• Added sugar intake was estimated using 24-hour dietary recalls.
• Added sugar intake was classified into tertiles: low (0 g), medium (0.01–6.96 g), and high (>6.96 g).
• Linear mixed-effects models were fitted to assess associations over time.

The major food group contributors to added sugar intake were infant formulas, table sugars, and sweet baked goods.

• Major contributors were identified by food group analysis of 24-hour dietary recall data.
• These three food groups were the primary sources of added sugar across the study population of children ≤ 2 years.
• The study population included 248 mother-child pairs from the MAS-Lactancia birth cohort.

Longer exclusive and continued breastfeeding were associated with lower added sugar intake.

• Breastfeeding duration was assessed as both exclusive and continued breastfeeding.
• Children with longer breastfeeding duration had lower added sugar intake compared to those breastfed for shorter durations.
• This finding suggests breastfeeding may protect against added sugar exposure in early life.
• Associations were assessed using linear mixed-effects models.

High added sugar intake was associated with higher scores for emotional overeating compared to low intake.

• Appetite and satiety indicators were measured using the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire.
• Compared to low intake, children with high AS intake had higher emotional overeating scores (β = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.04, 1.12).
• High added sugar intake was defined as >6.96 g/day (top tertile).
• Low added sugar intake was defined as 0 g/day.

High added sugar intake was associated with higher food fussiness scores compared to low intake.

• Food fussiness was assessed using the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire.
• Compared to low intake, children with high AS intake had higher food fussiness scores (β = 1.45, 95% CI: 0.38, 2.53).
• High added sugar intake was defined as >6.96 g/day.
• Both emotional overeating and food fussiness findings were derived from linear mixed-effects models.

High added sugar intake was associated with lower length-for-age Z score, indicating suboptimal linear growth.

• Growth was assessed using length-for-age Z score (ZLA).
• Compared to low AS intake, high AS intake was associated with lower ZLA (β = -0.17 z, 95% CI: -0.32, -0.01).
• This association suggests that AS intake ≥ 7 g/d is linked to suboptimal growth in children ≤ 2 years.
• Adiposity was also evaluated using body mass index-for-age Z score, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness.

High added sugar intake was associated with greater waist circumference, indicating central adiposity.

• Waist circumference was used as one measure of adiposity.
• Compared to low AS intake, high AS intake was associated with higher waist circumference (β = 2.02 cm, 95% CI: 1.32, 2.73).
• This finding indicates an association between high early-life added sugar intake and central adiposity.
• Additional adiposity measures included body mass index-for-age Z score and skinfold thickness.