Role of sweetness in the diet; past, and present

ILSI workshop, April 2017, Kees de Graaf

History of consumption

Sweetness in the current diet

Sweetness in the diet

History of sugar consumption

Neolithic diet: virtually no sugar, sweetness in neolithic diet, dades, honey; most fruits were not so sweet

Early, agriculture based starch rich diet little sugar

Chad family:

● No sweet foods

● Sugar ration: 15 g/p/d

Menzel, D’Alusio, Hungry planet; Chad

History of sugar consumption

In early middle ages in Europe, sugar was considered as a spice, condiment, e.g. like pepper

From 1500 – 1800 increase in production and consumption with rise in sugar cane plantations, slavery; as sweetener in tea, coffee, and chocolate

Mintz: Sweetness and Power

History of sugar consumption

From 1800 middle 20th century

Industrial revolution

Sugar beet sharp drop in price increased availability

Cordain et al, Am J Clin Nutr 2005

Contribution macronutrients as functie of GNP - Perusse

With an increase BNP:

↓ en% carbohydrates, ↑ en% sugar, ↑ en% fat

↑ en% animal protein, ↓ en% plant protein, en% total protein constant

↑ en% animal fat, ↓ en% plant fat

History of sugar consumption

1950 – 1970: slight increase

1970 – 1980 : stable

Since 1980’s Netherlands stable sugar intake: 20 en%

FCS 1988 1992 1998 2007-10

124 g 117 g 123 g 112 g

Hautvast, den Hartog, 1988, Aula

Pocket

Inborn preference, decline until adulthood

Sweetness preference with age

De Graaf et al, Physiol Behav 1999

Contribution of mono- and disaccharides to energy

intake (%), according to Dutch National Food

Consumption Survey

1988 1998 2007-2010

Girls/boys 1 – 3/4 35 33

Girls/boys 7- 18/21 27 28 27

Women 16-64/69 22 21 21

Sensory database – 481 foods

9

Mean taste intensity (0-100 mm)

Cluster N Sweet Sour Bitter Umami Salt Fat

Example

foods

Overall 481 22±20 11±14 4±9 8±11 17±17 31±24

Fat 37 7±6 13±16 2±3 6±6 20±14 80±11 Mayonnaise

Neutral 130 10±8 4±3 3±4 4±5 10±9 13±9 Bread brown

wheat

Sweet/

sour 66 31±15 36±15 3±5 1±4 5±7 11±12

Apple with skin

average

Salt/umami

/fat 119 8±6 9±7 1±2 23±9 42±9 46±14

Cheese Gouda

48+ average

Sweet/fat 113 51±11 5±7 3±5 1±1 8±5 37±16 Chocolate bar

milk nuts

Bitter 16 12±8 12±11 47±11 1±1 2±1 5±4 Coffee prepared

481 foods contribute in total to 83% of energy intake

Taste intake patterns - Netherlands

Dutch National Food Consumption Survey

2007-2010

N=1,351

2 x 24 hr recall

Dietary assessment methodology study

2011-2013

N=944

2 x 24 hr recall/FFQ’s translation to cohort studies

10

Taste intake patterns by gender

11

Weight status, men

12

Weight status, women

13

Discussion

Sweetness is not necessarily part of diet

Sugar as sweetener came up after 1800’s

Intake of sugar relatively constant since 1970’s

Children consume more sweet products than adults

Women consume more sweet products than men

No relationship between weight status and consumption of sweet products

Thank you for

your attention

Questions?