Food Sources of Added Sweeteners in the Diets of Americans

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Abstract

Objective To identify food sources of added sweeteners in the US diet.

Design A descriptive study using data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) 1994-1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals. Each subject provided one 24-hour dietary recall. Intake of added sweeteners was calculated using the USDA Food Guide Pyramid servings database.

Subjects/setting A national sample of noninstitutionalized persons aged 2 years and older (N=15,010).

Statistical analyses Mean intakes of added sweeteners from all food sources and from specific food categories; percentage contribution of added sweeteners to total energy intake; and percentage contribution of each food category to total intake of added sweeteners. All analyses were conducted for the total sample and for 12 age-gender groups.

Results During 1994 to 1996, Americans aged 2 years and older consumed the equivalent of 82 g carbohydrate per day from added sweeteners, which accounted for 16% of total energy intake. In absolute terms, adolescent males consumed the most; as a percentage of energy, male and female adolescents had the highest intakes (averaging 20% of total energy from added sweeteners). The largest source of added sweeteners was regular soft drinks, which accounted for one third of intake. Other sources were table sugars, syrups, and sweets; sweetened grains; regular fruitades/drinks; and milk products.

Applications/conclusions Intakes of added sweeteners exceed levels compatible with meeting current dietary recommendations. Knowing food sources of added sweeteners for the overall population and for specific age-gender groups can help dietitians provide appropriate nutrition education. JAm Diet Assoc. 2000;100:43-48,51.

Section snippets

Sample

Data were obtained from the 1994-1996 CSFII in which a complex sampling design was used to obtain a nationally representative sample of persons living in households in the United States (10). Up to 2 nonconsecutive 24-hour recalls of dietary intake were obtained from participants. Day 1 response rate, that is, provision of at least the first day's dietary recall, was 80% (10). To maximize sample size, we used only the first day of dietary data. US Dietary Guidelines recommendations apply only

Consumption of Added Sweeteners

Consumption of added sweeteners from all food sources is shown in Table 1. The total population aged 2 years and older averaged an intake of 82.2 gram-equivalents of added sweeteners. For both males and females, intake was highest in adolescence. Females aged 12 to 17 years consumed 97.7 gram-equivalents of added sweeteners and males of that age consumed 141.8 gram-equivalents, the largest amount of any age-gender group. Intake declined in adulthood, reaching a low of 44.9 gram-equivalents for

Discussion

Sample dietary patterns based on the Food Guide Pyramid suggest intakes of added sweeteners ranging from 6% to 10% of energy, a range exceeded, on the average, by the general US population and by all age-gender groups we studied. Intakes as a percentage of energy were highest among male and female adolescents; they were also high among children 6 to 11 years old and young adults 18 to 34 years old. High intakes of added sweeteners may make it difficult for all but the most active people to

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