Metabolomic Profiles Associated With Sugary Beverage Intakes in Youth

Area of Science:

• Metabolomics
• Pediatric Nutrition
• Metabolic Health

Background:

• Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are linked to obesity and metabolic dysfunction in youth.
• The metabolic impact of 100% fruit juice, also high in free sugars, is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the metabolomic profiles associated with sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) versus 100% fruit juice intake in youth.
• To analyze these associations across childhood and adolescence.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 593 youth in the EPOCH cohort (ages 6–19).
• Assessed beverage intake via food frequency questionnaires and analyzed serum samples using untargeted metabolomics.
• Employed LASSO regression with bootstrapping to identify beverage-associated metabolites.

Main Results:

• 40 metabolites linked to SSB intake and 39 to fruit juice intake across childhood and adolescence.
• Only three metabolites (argininate, cortisone, quinate) were associated with both beverage types.
• Both SSBs and fruit juice impacted amino acid, xenobiotic, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism, but with distinct metabolite profiles.

Conclusions:

• Sugar-sweetened beverage and 100% fruit juice consumption are associated with largely distinct metabolomic profiles in youth.
• These findings suggest beverage-specific metabolic effects.
• Further research is needed to replicate findings and elucidate underlying mechanisms.