Christmas, ITP and sugar

Importance Epidemiologic studies have suggested that higher intake of added sugar is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. Few prospective studies have examined the association of added sugar intake with CVD mortality.

Objective To examine time trends of added sugar consumption as percentage of daily calories in the United States and investigate the association of this consumption with CVD mortality.

Design, Setting, and Participants National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 1988-1994 [III], 1999-2004, and 2005-2010 [n = 31 147]) for the time trend analysis and NHANES III Linked Mortality cohort (1988-2006 [n = 11 733]), a prospective cohort of a nationally representative sample of US adults for the association study.

Main Outcomes and Measures Cardiovascular disease mortality.

Results Among US adults, the adjusted mean percentage of daily calories from added sugar increased from 15.7% (95% CI, 15.0%-16.4%) in 1988-1994 to 16.8% (16.0%-17.7%; P = .02) in 1999-2004 and decreased to 14.9% (14.2%-15.5%; P < .001) in 2005-2010. Most adults consumed 10% or more of calories from added sugar (71.4%) and approximately 10% consumed 25% or more in 2005-2010. During a median follow-up period of 14.6 years, we documented 831 CVD deaths during 163 039 person-years. Age-, sex-, and race/ethnicity–adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of CVD mortality across quintiles of the percentage of daily calories consumed from added sugar were 1.00 (reference), 1.09 (95% CI, 1.05-1.13), 1.23 (1.12-1.34), 1.49 (1.24-1.78), and 2.43 (1.63-3.62; P < .001), respectively. After additional adjustment for sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics, HRs were 1.00 (reference), 1.07 (1.02-1.12), 1.18 (1.06-1.31), 1.38 (1.11-1.70), and 2.03 (1.26-3.27; P = .004), respectively. Adjusted HRs were 1.30 (95% CI, 1.09-1.55) and 2.75 (1.40-5.42; P = .004), respectively, comparing participants who consumed 10.0% to 24.9% or 25.0% or more calories from added sugar with those who consumed less than 10.0% of calories from added sugar. These findings were largely consistent across age group, sex, race/ethnicity (except among non-Hispanic blacks), educational attainment, physical activity, health eating index, and body mass index.

Conclusions and Relevance Most US adults consume more added sugar than is recommended for a healthy diet. We observed a significant relationship between added sugar consumption and increased risk for CVD mortality.

archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1819573

Sandi - I will assume that this JAMA article didn't include any reference to Christmas, but seriously, did it show any link between sugar and ITP? (I am referring to your topic heading) I am too cheap to buy the whole article to find out!

In any case, this study is added motivation for me to cut back on sugar, and so a better topic heading might be "New Year's Resolutions".

I have forwarded the article to Ellen for her to use in her work as a clinical dietitian.

Rob:

Ha, no, I guess the article didn't reference Christmas, but the PDSA did in their title on the FB page where I found it.

The connections are indirectly ITP related, and I'll explain my reason for posting it. I guess you can't really read my mind, huh?

One - after splenectomy, the risk of cardiovascular disease goes up, and cutting back or eliminating sugar could possibly reduce that risk.

www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/02/03/added-sugars-heart-disease-death/5183799/

www.bloodjournal.org/content/114/14/2861?sso-checked=1

Two - Sugar can contribute to the development of any autoimmune disorder. I have seen many articles about this...don't have time to look them up at the moment.

www.arizonaadvancedmedicine.com/articles/inflammation_francis.html

www.sugarscience.org/sugar-sweetened-beverages/#.VJ4HAP8JAps

I've had to give up a LOT of foods to get healthier (and I'm a foodie) and I have a big sugar habit. I don't want to give that up. I made peace with my dentist by using a fluoride mouthwash. So, this is not good news.
Erica

Its been a focus of mine for some time. Not welcome news for those that have a sugar habit ...

Watch the video. The key is fructose, its two carbon rings, and your liver.

www.pdsa.org/forum-sp-534/8-natural-treatment-methods/27227-sugar.html

cheers,

john

Yep, giving up sugar can be hard. That was one of the big changes that my husband and I made months ago. We gave up most sugar and all caffeine. I still use a little creamer in my decaf coffee, but we don't buy cake, cookies, etc any more. Ice cream is a rare thing, but we still have it about once a month.

You can't give up everything, so you have to pick and choose what works best for you. I've always been one who preferred veggies over dessert anyway, so sugar wasn't all that detrimental to me for the most part.

I'm just glad that there is no sugar in chocolate.