The researchers took advantage of a unique situation in the United Kingdom during and after World War II, where sugar rationing was in place until This "natural experiment" allowed them to analyze the long-term health effects of early sugar consumption. They examined the health data of over 60, individuals born between and , comparing those exposed to sugar rationing in utero and early childhood to those who were not.
During the rationing period, British adults were allowed up to 40 grams of sugar per day, which is half the current average consumption and comparable to modern dietary guidelines.
After the rationing ended, sugar consumption in the UK surged to around 80 grams about 5. This stark contrast in sugar intake provided a clear framework for the study. The findings indicated that individuals born during the sugar rationing period had significantly lower rates of Type 2 diabetes and hypertension in adulthood. Additionally, the onset of these diseases was delayedβdiabetes by an average of four years and hypertension by an average of two years.
They also noted that "avoiding sugar early in life delayed the onset of high blood pressure by two years and diabetes by about four years, with an average delay of four years for diabetes and two years for hypertension. Early exposure to sugar can influence metabolism and foster a lasting preference for sweet foods, making it harder to avoid sugary foods throughout life.
Tadeja Gracner explained that "studies show that, although most humans like sweets, significant exposure to sugar early in life may strengthen that preference. Exposure in the womb alone accounted for nearly one-third of the reduction in risk.
