Intake of NME sugars: effect of a school-based intervention

Sugars are the most important dietary factor in the aetiology of dental caries. The UK Dietary Reference Value (DRV) for non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) is <60g/day. Objectives: the objective of this study was to measure the effect of an after school Food Club, which taught 12-year-old children how to prepare healthy foods, on NMES intake. Methods: Children from 5 schools (n=100) attended a weekly Food Club for 20 weeks. Children from 5 other schools (n=98) were controls. Diet was assessed using 2x3-day food diaries at baseline and post- intervention. Intake of NMES was determined. Within-group changes were determined using paired t-test and differences between groups using t-test. Results: In the intervention group the mean daily intakes of NMES were: baseline 92g (sd 32), post-intervention 86g (sd 33) with a mean decrease of 6g (se 4) (P=0.15). In the control group the mean daily intakes of NMES were: baseline 101g (sd 43), post-intervention 90g (sd 30) with a mean decrease of 10 g (se 5) (P=0.02). The percent energy from NMES in the intervention group was: baseline 17 (se 4), post-intervention 15 (sd 4) with a mean decrease of 2 (se 0.6) (P < 0.001). In the control group the percent energy from NMES was: baseline 18 (sd 5), post-intervention 16 (sd 4), with a mean decrease of 3 (se 0.6) (P<0.001). Conclusions: both groups significantly decreased NMES intake. However, as no significant differences in change in NMES intake was observed between groups, this positive change may not be attributed to the dietary intervention and NMES intake remained ~1.5 times the DRV.