The Effect of Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake on Energy Intake in an ad libitum 6-Month Low-Fat High-Carbohydrate Diet

Background/Aims: The increased incidence of obesity coincides with an increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). This study investigated the effect of SSB intake on energy intake in an ad libitum 6-month low-fat high-carbohydrate diet in a reanalysis of the CARMEN data. Methods: Forty-seven overweight-to-obese men and women participated in the Maastricht centre of the randomized controlled CARMEN study. They were allocatedto a control (habitual) diet group (CD), a low-fat (–10 energy percent, En%) high simple carbohydrate (SCHO) or low-fat high complex carbohydrate group (CCHO) (SCHO vs. CCHO: 1.5 vs. 0.5) using a controlled laboratory shop system. Reanalyses were made for the energy, amount and density of all drinks and in particular of sweetened beverages (SBs). The SCHO and CD group could select nondiet SBs, including soft drinks and fruit juices, while the CCHO group received SB alternatives. Results: Energy intake decreased in the CCHO and SCHO groups versus the CD group (–2.7 ± 0.4 MJ/day CCHO group vs. –0.2 ± 0.5 MJ/day CD group, p < 0.01; –1.4 ± 0.4 MJ/day SCHO group, not significant). Simple carbohydrate intake increased significantly in the SCHO group versus the CCHO and CD groups (+10.8 ± 1.6 vs. –2.0 ± 0.9 and –0.5 ± 1.1 En%; p < 0.001). In the SCHO and CD groups, energy intake from SBs increased significantly (+187 ± 114 and +101 ± 83 kJ/day, respectively; –432 ± 72 kJ/day in the CCHO group; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Simple carbohydrate intake increased through enhanced intake of nondiet SBs in the SCHO group. Fat reduction combined with only diet SBs in an ad libitum situation has a greater impact on energy intake than fat reduction combined with nondiet SBs.