The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition noted that the study's authors discovered that reducing a child's sugar intake from birth until age two reduces their risk of developing asthma and other chronic lung diseases as adults.
In the study, scientists analyzed data from nearly 59,000 people born in the UK during the period of sugar rationing after World War II (between 1951 and 1956). The results showed that those who consumed less sugar in early childhood were 25-27% less likely to develop asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and their onset of these diseases was delayed, on average, by 3-4 years. They also had better respiratory function indicators, with greater lung capacity and more efficient breathing.
The study authors noted that people who consumed lower amounts of sugar in the first two years of life were also less likely to develop diabetes and high blood pressure, suggesting the overall benefit of moderate sugar consumption at an early age.
According to researchers, excessive sugar consumption during the first years of life may cause inflammatory processes that hinder the normal development of the respiratory tract. They emphasize that adopting healthy eating habits from childhood helps maintain good lung health and reduces the risk of chronic diseases in the future.
