Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Riad El-Solh, PO Box 11-0236, Beirut, 1107-2020, Lebanon.
Eur J Nutr. 2021 Aug;60(5):2655-2669. doi: 10.1007/s00394-020-02444-5. Epub 2021 Jan 2.
To determine the intake levels, dietary sources, and determinants of free sugars (FS) consumption amongst Lebanese children and adolescents.
This study is based on data collected by two national cross-sectional surveys conducted on representative samples of Lebanese children: survey 1 (under-five years (U5) children) (n = 899) and survey 2 (5-18 years-old children) (n = 1133). Multi-component questionnaires were used for data collection. Dietary intakes were assessed using one 24 h dietary recall. Median daily intakes of FS, and percent contribution of various food groups to FS intake were compared between sex and age groups. Logistic regressions were conducted to explore the determinants of high FS intake (> 10% energy intake/d), as per the WHO recommendations.
Median contribution of FS to daily energy intake was 8.5% in U5 children and 11.9% amongst those aged 5-18 years old. The top contributors to FS in both surveys were sugar-sweetened beverages and biscuits and chocolates. The proportion of children and adolescents exceeding WHO upper limits for FS was estimated at 43 and 62% in survey 1 and survey 2, respectively. Regression models showed females, higher household monthly incomes and higher parental educational levels were associated with significantly lower odds of exceeding the WHO upper limit for FS.
The study showed that a high proportion of Lebanese children and adolescents exceeded the WHO upper limit for FS intake, while also documenting a socioeconomic gradient in FS intake. Findings call for devising food system-based interventions to help reduce FS intake in this nutritionally vulnerable age group.
确定黎巴嫩儿童和青少年的游离糖（FS）摄入量、膳食来源和影响因素。
本研究基于两项针对黎巴嫩儿童代表性样本进行的全国性横断面调查的数据：调查 1（5 岁以下儿童）（n=899）和调查 2（5-18 岁儿童）（n=1133）。采用多成分问卷收集数据。通过 1 份 24 小时膳食回顾来评估饮食摄入量。比较了不同性别和年龄组 FS 的日均摄入量和各种食物组对 FS 摄入量的贡献率。采用逻辑回归探讨了与 WHO 建议一致的 FS 高摄入量（>10%能量摄入/d）的决定因素。
FS 对 5 岁以下儿童和 5-18 岁儿童日能量摄入的贡献率中位数分别为 8.5%和 11.9%。在两项调查中，FS 的主要来源均为含糖饮料和饼干巧克力。估计分别有 43%和 62%的儿童和青少年超过了调查 1 和调查 2 中 FS 的 WHO 上限。回归模型显示，女性、家庭月收入较高和父母受教育程度较高与 FS 摄入量超过 WHO 上限的几率显著降低相关。
研究表明，很大一部分黎巴嫩儿童和青少年 FS 摄入量超过了 WHO 的上限，同时也记录了 FS 摄入量的社会经济梯度。研究结果呼吁制定基于食品系统的干预措施，以帮助减少这个营养脆弱年龄段的 FS 摄入量。
