Sugar intake in Sudanese individuals was associated with some features of the metabolic syndrome: Population based study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the level of sugar intake among Sudanese individuals.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study with 323 participants. Respondents were grouped by the total intake of added sugars into two groups, one group with sugar intake more than 200 calories per day and other group with sugar intake less than 200 calories per day. Demographic data were collected with anthropometric measurements like body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. Chi square, T-Tests and stepwise logistic regression were used (a p-value <0.05 was considered significant).

Results: High sugar intake was noted among 74.6% participants and among overweight, normal weight, followed by obese (p<0.015) and then individuals with diabetes and hypertension (p <0.000 and 0.038 respectively).High sugar intake was also associated with abdominal obesity (p<0.016), mean age of 33 years old (p<0.00) and being married and single(p<0.003). Stepwise logistic regression showed diabetes and BMI<25 were absolute predictors for sugar consumption with p value of 0.001 and 0.039 respectively. Individuals with diabetes have more than five times probability to consume large amount of sugar (Odd ratio 5.6), while those with BMI<25 have two times risk of consuming more sugar compared to those with BMI>25 group (Odd ratio 2.1).

Conclusion: A large percentage of Sudanese population uses a high amount of sugar. High sugar intake was associated with normal weight, overweight, abdominal obesity, diabetes and hypertension. Absolute predictors of high sugar intake were diabetes and normal body weight.

Keywords: Diabetes and overweight; Obesity; Sudan; Sugar intake.