Less sugar in first 1,000 days can cut disease risk - study

Cutting the amount of sugar children get in the womb and as toddlers can protect them against diabetes and high blood pressure in adulthood, research suggests.

- Ian Sample Science editor

The finding reveals a critical period for healthy nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life as babies absorb nutrients from their mother and move on to formulas and infant foods.

Scientists found that restricting sugar intake to levels in dietary guidelines in early life was linked to a 35% drop in rates of type 2 diabetes in middle age and a 20% fall in high blood pressure.

A low-sugar diet also appeared to delay onset of the chronic diseases, with diabetes and high blood pressure arising four and two years later respectively in people who had little sugar at the start of life compared with those who consumed much more.