DIETARY SOURCES AND INTAKE OF ADDED SUGAR AMONG COLOMBIAN POPULATION: RESULTS FROM ELANS STUDY

Background and objectives: Over the past 30 years, total calorie intake has increased by an average of 150 to 300 calories per day, approximately 50% of this increase comes from added sugar (AS). This study aimed to identify the dietary intake and sources of AS among Colombian population. Methods: Data was obtained from 1230 Colombians (15-65 years old) participating in Latin American Health and Nutrition Study (ELANS), a multicenter study of urban areas of 8 Latin-American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela). The intake information was collected using two 24 hours' dietary recall, following the multiple pass methodology and analyzed with the NDS- Software. To identify the intake of AS and the major food items accounting for AS, the weighed-proportions formula developed by Block et al (1985) was used. Median intake and sources of AS were performed by age group, gender and socioeconomic level (SEL). Results: Median AS was 59.5g/day and 11% of total energy (11.8% females and 11% males). The main source of AS for the whole population was carbonated soft drinks (CSDs) 21.4% and Infusions were the second source (18.5%), the first one was higher in the youngers 32.1% (15-19 y.o.) and 23.6% (20-34 y.o.) and the infusions in the older groups 20.7% (35-49 y.o.) and 26.6% (50-65 y.o.). CSDs were the main source of AS in high and medium SEL (20.4 and 25.7%) and infusions on low SEL (20.6%), due to the high consumption of "panela" (unrefined sugar used to prepare infusions and as sugar substitute, source of low cost energy). Within the total AS intake, sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) represented 71% and other sources as foods 29%. Conclusions: Colombians are consuming 1% of AS above the level recommended by the World Health Organization (10%). The main source of AS was SSBs independent of gender, age group and SES, being CSDs and infusions the two mains sources depending on the age group. This results reinforce the high intake of AS as a source of energy and shows the importance of public health programs focusing on strategies to reduce the quantity and frequency AS sources on the diet.