The scientific studies used to create nutritional guidelines are not based on high-quality evidence, according to a new systematic review in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
A team of researchers at McMaster University and the Hospital for Sick Children reviewed nine public health guidelines that recommended limiting sugar intake. The guidelines, including ones from the U.S. government and the World Health Organization, were based on low-quality studies, according to the researchers.
The general population, however, should still limit their intake of nutrient-poor foods and sugar-sweetened beverages, the researchers suggested. Instead, they are more concerned with how much sugars should be limited, and do not want to see sugars replaced with other food additives, much like what happened when the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended eating a low-fat diet.
