What is the appropriate upper limit for added sugars consumption?

James M Rippe1, John L Sievenpiper2, Kim-Anne Lê2

  • 1J.M. Rippe is with the Rippe Lifestyle Institute, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA; and the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA. J.L. Sievenpiper is with the Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St Michael's Hospital; the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael's Hospital; the Toronto 3D Knowledge Synthesis and Clinical Trials Unit, St Michael's Hospital; and the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Centre, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. K.-A. Lê is with Nestec Ltd, Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland. J.S. White is with White Technical Research, Argenta, Illinois, USA. R. Clemens is with the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California; and the International Center for Regulatory Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. T.J. Angelopoulos is with the School of Health Sciences, Emory and Henry College, Emory, Virginia, USA. jrippe@rippelifestyle.com.

Nutrition Reviews
|December 16, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Global increases in obesity and diabetes may be linked to added sugars. While avoiding excessive sugar is prudent, the scientific basis for strict consumption limits remains unsettled.

Related Concept Videos

Carbohydrates: Dietary Sources and Requirements01:15

Carbohydrates: Dietary Sources and Requirements

Carbohydrates are predominantly obtained from plant sources. With the exception of lactose found in milk and insignificant glycogen amounts in meat, most consumed carbohydrates have plant origins. Monosaccharides and disaccharides, or sugars, can be sourced from fruits, honey, milk, sugar cane, and sugar beets. Grains and vegetables are rich in the polysaccharide starch. Two types of polysaccharides provide fiber: cellulose, which is abundant in many vegetables, forms undigestible roughage or...
2.1K
Carbohydrate Metabolism01:36

Carbohydrate Metabolism

Carbohydrates are polymers composed of molecules containing atoms of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. One gram of carbohydrate can provide four kilo-calories of energy, which makes it the most efficient instant energy source.
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in...
14.7K
Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements01:18

Lipids: Dietary Sources and Requirements

Lipids are an essential component of a balanced human diet. Triglycerides, which make up the majority of dietary lipids, are found in both saturated fats—commonly present in meat, dairy products, and certain tropical plants like coconut, and hydrogenated oils such as margarine and baking shortenings (trans fats)—and unsaturated fats, which are abundant in seeds, nuts, olive oil, and most vegetable oils. The main sources of cholesterol include egg yolks, various meats and organ...
2.5K
SBAR II: Application of SBAR01:14

SBAR II: Application of SBAR

SBAR is an effective communication tool used by healthcare professionals to communicate patient information accurately. SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. For a better understanding, an example is given below.
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
6.3K
Glucose Absorption Into the Small Intestine01:26

Glucose Absorption Into the Small Intestine

Complex carbohydrates consumed cannot be absorbed into the small intestine in their original form. First, they must be hydrolyzed to a monosaccharide form such as glucose or galactose. These monosaccharides are then transported across the intestinal membrane and into the blood via transcellular transport. The intestinal epithelial cells allow the movement of these monosaccharides with a defined 'entry' through membrane transporter proteins present on their apical membrane and...
36.7K
Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism01:19

Overview of Carbohydrate Metabolism

Carbohydrate metabolism is a fundamental biochemical process that ensures a constant supply of energy to living cells. The most important carbohydrate is glucose, which can be broken down via glycolysis to enter into the Krebs cycle and eventually lead to the production of ATP through oxidative phosphorylation.
Glucose transport into cells is facilitated by a family of transport proteins called GLUT (Glucose Transporters). GLUT4 is the primary glucose transporter for insulin-stimulated glucose...
4.0K