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Removing processed sugar without cutting calories improves health of obese kids

Over the course of 9 days, obese black and Latino children had lower cholesterol and BP levels after cutting processed sugar from their diets, without restricting their caloric intake, according to recently published data in Obesity.

To assess the impact of replacing calories consumed from sugar with starch on metabolic parameters in Latino and black children with high blood pressure and unhealthy cholesterol levels, researchers reduced the sugar intake among 43 participants for 9 days. Dietary sugar intake was reduced from 28% to 10% and substituted with starch, according to the researchers.

Results demonstrated that over the 9 days, no changes were observed in systolic BP, but there was a significant decrease in diastolic BP (P = .002). Additionally, reductions were seen in lactate (P < .001), triglyceride and LDL cholesterol (P < .001) levels.

Participants had an average weight loss 0.9 kg over the course of the study period (P < .001). On average, participants fat-free mass reduced by 0.6 kg (P = .04).

“Further studies will be required to determine whether sugar restriction alone can impact metabolic syndrome in adults and whether such effects are short-lived or long-term,” the researchers concluded. – by Casey Hower

Disclosures: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.