Increased coffee, tea, or other sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in adolescents is associated with less satisfactory dietary quality, body fatness and serum uric acid profiles over the past 18 years in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Taiwan has a high density of convenience stores and beverage shops, which makes sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) very accessible to teenagers. This study examined the changes and the association between SSBs and biomarkers and nutrient intake, for teenagers over the course of 18 years using a national representative sample.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

This cross-sectional study used data from the Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT). Complete data for teenagers aged 13 to 19 years including a 24-hour dietary recall, anthropometric and clinical measurements, and SSBs from two periods were analyzed (1993-1996: N=1820; 2010-2011: N=2513). SAS callable SUDAAN was used for statistical analysis, adjusting for the sampling scheme. Log transformation was used for non-normal variables before linear models were used. Coffee or tea and SSB (excluding tea or coffee) consumers were categorized as non-drinkers, low (below), or high (above) consumers based on median intake during 1993-1996.

RESULTS

Intake of coffee or tea increased significantly in the 18 years of this study (p<0.01), whereas intake of SSBs (excluding coffee or tea) decreased significantly (p<0.05). Intake was significantly higher among second survey and those with high total energy intakes (p<0.01). For both coffee/tea and SSB, the high-intake groups had higher serum uric acid and intake of carbohydrates (p<0.05), lower intake of protein and phosphorus and lower dietary diversity score (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Consumption of coffee or tea increased in adolescents during the 18 years. High intakes of SSB, coffee or tea was associated with high serum uric acid values and worse dietary quality.