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Associations Between Intake of Sugar-Containing Beverages in Infancy With Liver Fat Accumulation at School Age
Madelon L Geurtsen1,2, Susana Santos1,2, Romy Gaillard1,2
1The Generation R Study GroupErasmus University Medical CenterRotterdamthe Netherlands.
Insights
High sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in infancy is linked to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in school-aged children. Limiting these drinks early may prevent childhood liver issues.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Hepatology
- Public Health
Background:
- Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a significant risk factor for obesity and are linked to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in adults.
- Infant SSB intake's impact on childhood liver health, specifically liver fat accumulation and NAFLD, requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between sugar-sweetened beverage intake during infancy and the development of liver fat accumulation and NAFLD in school-aged children.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, population-based cohort study involving 1,940 infants.
- Assessment of SSB intake at age 1 year using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire.
- Measurement of liver fat fraction and diagnosis of NAFLD (liver fat fraction ≥5.0%) using Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging at 10 years of age.
Main Results:
- No continuous association was found between infant SSB intake and liver fat accumulation at age 10.
- Infants consuming >2.0 servings/day of SSBs showed significantly higher odds of NAFLD at age 10 compared to those consuming <1.0 serving/day (OR, 3.02).
- Stronger associations between infant SSB intake and NAFLD were observed in children of mothers with lower educational attainment and in children who were overweight or obese.
Conclusions:
- Higher sugar-sweetened beverage intake in infancy is associated with NAFLD in school-aged children, independent of later SSB intake and BMI.
- Early limitation of SSBs in infancy may be a crucial strategy for preventing liver steatosis in childhood.
Background And Aims:
Sugar-containing beverage intake is a major risk factor for obesity in both children and adults and appears to be associated with NAFLD in adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between sugar-containing beverage intake in infancy and liver fat accumulation and NAFLD among school-aged children.
Approach And Results:
In a population-based prospective cohort study of 1,940 infants, we assessed sugar-containing beverage intake at 1 year with a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Liver fat fraction and NAFLD (liver fat fraction ≥5.0%) were assessed with MR. Higher sugar-containing beverage intake in infancy was not associated with higher liver fat accumulation at 10 years of age when assessed continuously (SD, 0.03; 95% CI, 0.02, 0.07, per one-serving/day increase of sugar-containing beverage intake) or categorically (P = 0.38). However, compared to infants with <1.0 serving/day, those with >2.0 servings/day had the highest odds of NAFLD at 10 years of age (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.34, 6.83). These associations remained borderline significant after additional adjustment for sugar-containing beverage intake and body mass index at school age (P = 0.13). Stratified analyses showed stronger associations between sugar-containing beverage intake in infancy and NAFLD at 10 years of age among children of mothers with lower educational attainment (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.12, 1.97) and among children with overweight or obesity (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.05, 2.07).
Conclusions:
Higher sugar-containing beverage intake in infancy was associated with NAFLD in school-aged children, independent of sugar-containing beverage intake and body mass index at school age. Limiting the intake of sugar-containing beverages in infancy may help prevent liver steatosis at school age.
