Restricted sugar and ketogenic diets can alter energy balance/metabolism, but decreased energy intake may be compensated by reduced expenditure. In healthy adults, randomization to restricting free sugars or overall carbohydrates (ketogenic diet) for 12 weeks reduces fat mass without changing energy expenditure versus control. Free-sugar restriction minimally affects metabolism or gut microbiome but decreases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). In contrast, a ketogenic diet decreases glucose tolerance, increases skeletal muscle PDK4, and reduces AMPK and GLUT4 levels. By week 4, the ketogenic diet reduces fasting glucose and increases apolipoprotein B, C-reactive protein, and postprandial glycerol concentrations. However, despite sustained ketosis, these effects are no longer apparent by week 12, when gut microbial beta diversity is altered, possibly reflective of longer-term adjustments to the ketogenic diet and/or energy balance. These data demonstrate that restricting free sugars or overall carbohydrates reduces energy intake without altering physical activity, but with divergent effects on glucose tolerance, lipoprotein profiles, and gut microbiome.

UNASSIGNED: Given the role of commercial determinants on sugar consumption and health, this study aimed to describe lobbying practices of the ultra-processed sugary food and drinks industries in Chile between 2014 and 2022.
UNASSIGNED: Official meetings between ultra-processed sugary food and drinks industries and related commercial actors and Chilean government officials were obtained from the Chilean Lobby Registry. Relevant commercial names were initially identified based on their market share and expanded iteratively based on information from relevant meetings. Qualitative analysis followed a deductive-inductive approach using the Corporate Political Activity Model to identify and classify objectives, framing and action strategies.
UNASSIGNED: From 237 records identified, the Ministries of Health, Social Development, and Economy were the most frequently lobbied. Industry representatives sought to achieve their short- and long-term objectives by targeting a diverse range of authorities, including Ministers and Under-secretaries, using different strategies. Framing strategies focused on presenting sugary food and drinks industries as socially responsible and legitimate policy actors and criticised public health initiatives as \'bad solutions\'. Action strategies aimed to influence policymaking and nurture corporate reputations.
UNASSIGNED: Extensive lobbying took place by the sugary food and drinks industries between 2014 and 2022, a period when major public health policies were being discussed in Chile. Lobbying strategies varied to meet industry objectives and targeted a diverse range of government institutions including high-ranking officials. Tighter regulations to stop inappropriate industry influence in public health policymaking are urgently required.
UNASSIGNED: Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (Chile)-PhD Scholarship. University College London-Open Access fees.

The widespread application of enzymes in industrial chemical synthesis requires efficient process control to maintain high yields and purity. Flow injection analysis-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (FIA-ESI-MS) offers a promising solution for real-time monitoring of these enzymatic processes, particularly when handling challenging compounds like sugars and glycans, which are difficult to quickly analyze using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry due to their physical properties or the requirement for a derivatization step beforehand. This study compares the performance of FIA-MS with traditional hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC)-ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-mass spectrometry (MS) setups for the monitoring of the enzymatic synthesis of N-acetyllactosamine (LacNAc) using beta-1,4-galactosyltransferase. Our results show that FIA-MS, without prior chromatographic separation or derivatization, can quickly generate accurate mass spectrometric data within minutes, contrasting with the lengthy separations required by LC-MS methods. The rapid data acquisition of FIA-MS enables effective real-time monitoring and adjustment of the enzymatic reactions. Furthermore, by eliminating the derivatization step, this method offers the possibility of being directly coupled to a continuously operated reactor, thus providing a rapid on-line methodology for glycan synthesis as well.

BACKGROUND: Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD-Ia) is one of the most common hepatic GSD. Its treatment mainly consists of a diet including a high intake of slow-digestion carbohydrates such as raw cornstarch and the restriction of simple sugars. This enables the maintenance of euglycemia and prevents secondary metabolic disorders. Starch is a glucose polymer formed by amylose and amylopectin, which can be obtained from distinct sources. Although uncooked cornstarch has been successfully used in the treatment of GSD-Ia, it can lead to hyperglycemia and weight gain. in vitro andin vivo tests indicated that sweet manioc starch can be potentially used in the treatment of GSD-Ia.
RESULTS: The moisture analysis revealed a variation from 10.3 to 12.8% in the sweet manioc starch samples, whereas the moisture content of uncooked cornstarch ranged from 7.3 to 11.1%. Quantifiable sugar was detected in 3/5 samples of sweet manioc starch and 1/3 samples of uncooked cornstarch. Notably, this uncooked cornstarch brand is widely employed in GSD-Ia treatment in Brazil. Products B and E had higher values of amylopectin and undetectable levels of sugars. A clinical trial is warranted to compare samples F and G and determine the impact of sugar trace in the same dietary source of starch.
CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, the results demonstrated possible therapeutic alternatives for GSD-Ia in addition to traditional uncooked cornstarch.

Excess dietary sugar intake increases the risk of unhealthy weight gain, an important cardiometabolic risk factor in children. To further our understanding of this relationship, we performed a narrative review using two approaches. First, research examining dietary sugar intake, its associations with cardiometabolic health, impact of genetics on sweet taste perception and intake, and how genetics moderates the association of dietary sugar intake and cardiometabolic risk factors in preschool-aged children 1.5-5 years old is reviewed. Second, methodological considerations for collecting and analyzing dietary intake of sugar, genetic information, and markers of cardiometabolic health among young children are provided. Our key recommendations include the following for researchers: (1) Further longitudinal research on sugar intake and cardiometabolic risk factors is warranted to inform policy decisions and guidelines for healthy eating in preschool-aged children. (2) Consistency in sugar definitions is needed across research studies to aid with comparisons of results. (3) Select dietary collection tools specific to each study\'s aim and sugar definition(s). (4) Limit subjectivity of dietary assessment tools as this impacts interpretation of study results. (5) Choose non-invasive biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease until the strengths and limitations of available biomarkers in preschool-aged children are clarified. (6) Select approaches that account for the polygenic nature of cardiometabolic disease such as genome risk scores and genome wide association studies to assess how genetics moderates the relationship between dietary sugar intake and cardiometabolic risk. This review highlights potential recommendations that will support a research environment to help inform policy decisions and healthy eating policies to reduce cardiometabolic risk in young children.

Glycans, which are ubiquitously distributed on most proteins and cell surfaces, are a class of important biomolecules playing crucial roles in various biological processes such as molecular recognition and cellular communication. Modern mass spectrometry (MS) coupled with novel chemical probe labeling strategies has greatly advanced analysis of glycans. However, the requirement of high-throughput and robust quantitative analysis still calls for the development of more advanced tools. Recently, we devised isobaric multiplex reagents for carbonyl-containing compound (SUGAR) tags for 4-plex N-glycan analysis. To further improve the throughput, we utilized the mass-defect strategy and expanded the multiplexing capacity to 12 channels without changing the chemical structure of the SUGAR tag, achieving a threefold enhancement in throughput compared with the original design and managing to perform high-throughput N-glycan analysis in a single LC - MS/MS injection. Herein, we present detailed methods for the synthesis of 12-plex SUGAR isobaric tags, the procedure to release and label the N-glycans from proteins, and the analysis by high-resolution LC-MS/MS, as well as data processing to achieve multiplexed quantitative glycomics.

OBJECTIVE: Understand parental perceptions of beverages and factors influencing the beverage choices they make for their children.
METHODS: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL.
METHODS: Included studies contained qualitative data examining parents\' perceptions of beverages or factors that influence their child\'s beverage consumption, were conducted in the United States between 2000 and 2022, written in English, and enrolled parents of children aged 18 years or younger.
METHODS: Authors, titles, study aims, methods, qualitative results, and representative quotations were extracted using Covidence.
RESULTS: Qualitative findings were independently coded by two coders. Codes were compared and discrepancies resolved through discussion with a third team member. Themes and sub-themes were identified, and representative quotations selected.
RESULTS: 13 studies met inclusion criteria. Five major themes emerged: 1) factors that influence parents\' provision of beverages to their children, 2) parents\' concerns about sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), 3) barriers to limiting children\'s SSB consumption, 4) strategies to lower children\'s SSB consumption, and 5) parents\' perceptions of beverage healthfulness.
CONCLUSIONS: Though most parents are aware of unfavorable health effects of frequent SSB intake, environmental and sociocultural factors pose barriers to limiting their child\'s SSB consumption. Changes to policy and the food environment are needed to initiate and sustain reductions in SSB intake, along with continued nutrition education efforts.

To date, the risk of developing atherosclerosis has extended beyond Western countries and now affecting individuals from various ethnic backgrounds and age groups. Traditional risk factors of atherosclerosis, such as hypercholesterolemia, has been better controlled than before due to highly effective and inexpensive therapies at lowering plasma cholesterol levels. However, the role of reducing dietary cholesterol intake, as a public healthy strategy, in preventing the occurrence of cardiovascular mortalities has been recently challenged. Indeed, despite our continuous decline of dietary cholesterol intake within the last 50 years, the incidence of cardiovascular mortalities has continued to rise, thus raising the possibility that other dietary factors, such as fructose-containing sugars, are the major culprit. In the 1970s, John Yudkin first proposed that sugar was the predominant dietary factor that underlies the majority of cardiovascular mortalities, yet his hypothesis was dismissed. However, over the last 25 years substantial scientific evidence has been accumulated to support Yudkin\'s hypothesis. The objectives of this review are to highlight Yudkin\'s significant contribution to nutritional science by reviewing his hypothesis and summarizing the recent advances in our understanding of fructose metabolism. The metabolic consequences of fructose metabolism, such as fructose-induced uricemia, insulin resistance, lipoprotein hyperproduction and chronic inflammation, and how they are linked to atherosclerosis as risk factors will be discussed. Finally, the review will explore areas that warrant future research and raise important considerations that we need to evaluate when designing future studies.

The oral detection of sugars relies on two types of receptor systems. The first is the G-protein-coupled receptor TAS1R2/TAS1R3. When activated, this receptor triggers a downstream signaling cascade involving gustducin, phospholipase Cβ2 (PLCβ2), and transient receptor potential channel M5 (TRPM5). The second type of receptor is the glucose transporter. When glucose enters the cell via this transporter, it is metabolized to produce ATP. This ATP inhibits the opening of KATP channels, leading to cell depolarization. Beside these receptor systems, sweet-sensitive taste cells have mechanisms to regulate their sensitivity to sweet substances based on internal and external states of the body. Sweet taste receptors are not limited to the oral cavity; they are also present in extraoral organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and brain. These extraoral sweet receptors are involved in various functions, including glucose absorption, insulin release, sugar preference, and food intake, contributing to the maintenance of energy homeostasis. Additionally, sweet receptors may have unique roles in certain organs like the trachea and bone. This review summarizes past and recent studies on sweet receptor systems, exploring the molecular mechanisms and physiological functions of sweet (sugar) detection in both oral and extraoral organs.

BACKGROUND: Savory crispy or fried snack (SCFS), sugary snack (SS), and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption are associated with a higher prevalence of obesity and non-communicable diseases. So, we estimated the consumption of SCFS, SS, and SSB among elderly males and females in Bangladesh. We also reported the factors associated with their consumption using data from a nationwide cross-sectional study.
METHODS: We interviewed 2,482 (51.52%) elderly males and 2,335 (48.47%) elderly females for the recall for the past seven days on the intake of SCFS, SS, and SSB from 82 randomly selected clusters from rural, non-slum urban, and slum areas in Bangladesh. Sociodemographic and anthropometry data were also collected.
RESULTS: Consumption of SCFS, SS, and SSB for ≥1 time per week was reported by 884 (31.5%), 1,696 (66.1%), and 1,911 (69.3%) of the elderly males and 516 (20.1%), 1,367 (53.9%), and 1,171 (34.1%) of the elderly females, respectively. Both elderly males and females from slum and non-slum urban areas consumed more SSB than their rural counterparts. Higher level of television viewing was associated with increased frequency of intake of SCFS, SS, and SSB among elderly males and SSB intake among elderly females. Nutritional status was not associated with the consumption of these foods and drinks among the elderly; however, overweight males consumed SSB less frequently.
CONCLUSIONS: In Bangladesh, elderly males and females frequently consume unhealthy snacks and drinks. Considering their detrimental effect on health, it is necessary to reduce their consumption through policy and program measures and promote healthier foods and beverages.