The UK could prevent hundreds of thousands of people developing diabetes by reducing sugar content in drinks, researchers say today.
According to the research, a reduction in levels of free sugars in drinks – including fruit juices – of 40% would prevent about 300,000 cases of type 2 diabetes in 20 years.
Writing in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, the researchers say a similar approach has been successful in cutting salt consumption and preventing high blood pressure.
The study shows that by 2013, Britons consumed 6.4 billion litres of sweetened commercial drinks. Of this just 0.6 billion litres were sweetened fruit juices – which suffered a fall in consumption after 2010.
The number is an increase of about 400 million litres in ten years.
The study follows a report from Diabetes UK showing that more than four million people in the UK now suffer from diabetes.
One of the researchers, Professor Graham MacGregor, of Queen Mary University of London, UK, chairman of Action on Sugar, said: “Our study shows this strategy could have a profound impact on reducing energy intake from sugar sweetened beverages and could therefore lower the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the long term.”
The researchers say: “Our proposed strategy provides an innovative and practical way to gradually reduce energy intake from sugar-sweetened beverages and its combination with other strategies, including a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, would produce a more powerful effect."
* A second report today shows the impact of a 10% tax on sugary drinks introduced in Mexico.
Researchers found it has led to a 12% reduction in sales and a switch to untaxed drinks.
The findings are reported in The BMJ.
Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology January 7 2016 [abstract]
BMJ 7 January 2016 [abstract]
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