Dietary Sugars during Critical Phases of Development and Long-Term Risk of Non-Communicable Diseases

Abstract

Obesity and the intake of high-sugar diets have dramatically increased in recent decades. However, it is still uncertain how sugar intake during the critical development phase affects the long-term health of children. In this context, the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept established a correlation between early life environment and the development of cardiometabolic diseases in adulthood. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the consequences of sugar intake during the critical development phase for the onset of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We found evidence that increased sugar intake during pregnancy contributes to maternal obesity and many cardiometabolic dysfunctions in the offspring. Furthermore, dietary sugar during the suckling period provokes the obese phenotype in adulthood. Finally, high-sugar diet intake during childhood induces metabolic syndrome and depressive-like behavior.