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Professor Paul Thornalley of WMS welcomes PHE sugar limits

Public Health England has today published sugar limits for including biscuits, chocolate bars and cereals in a bid to make UK children more healthy.

Commenting on the news Professor Paul J. Thornalley of Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, said:

"The request from Public Health England to businesses to cut sugar by 20% by 2020, and by 5% this year, is welcome. The World Health Organisation and other advisory bodies suggest decreasing intake of free sugars to below 5% of total energy intake. Free sugar is currently about 15% of total energy intake in children and adolescents. There is intrinsic danger of sugar through modification of proteins and DNA by reactive sugar-derived metabolites such as methylglyoxal (MG). In a clinical trial to reduce MG in overweight and obese people last year, we were able to show profound health benefits of improved blood glucose control and action of insulin with only 8 weeks treatment. Decreasing sugar intake may produce significant health benefits."

30 March 2017

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