It has been reported from supply data that at a population level, every 628 kJ/d (150 kcal/d) increase in sugar availability, (equivalent to approximately one can of sugar-sweetened beverage daily), is independently associated with a 1.1% increase in diabetes mellitus prevalence⁽ Reference Basu, Yoffe and Hills ^{1 )}. The WHO has recommended restricting non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) to ⩽10% of E^{( 2 )}. Reformulation of sugar-containing processed foods is considered by some as a key option for achieving this target and for improving population health⁽ Reference van Raaij, Hendriksen and Verhagen ^{3 )}. The impact of a sugar reformulated product exchange on cardiovascular risk factors was assessed using a randomised controlled, double-blind, crossover dietary intervention study.

Fifty healthy volunteers (16 male, 34 female; age 31.3 (sd 9.6) years; BMI 24.0 (sd 3.3) kg/m²) were randomly assigned to consume either unmodified or sugar reformulated foods and drinks, including juice, soft drinks, pasta sauces, baked beans, muesli, chocolate, ketchup and jam, for an 8-week period. This was followed by a 4-week washout period before volunteers crossed to the alternate intervention. The minimum target difference in dietary NMES intake between the unmodified and reformulated product exchange was 38 g/d. Fasting serum was collected pre-and post-intervention and used to determine glucose, lipid and inflammatory markers. Logarithmically transformed data were statistically analysed using ANCOVA.

There was no significant effect of the intervention on BMI. When adjusted for BMI, dietary restraint, age and gender there were no differences in fasting serum glucose, total cholesterol, TAG, NEFA or C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations between interventions.

Mean values with their standard deviations. For the purpose of on-going blinded analyses, the dietary intervention arms are coded as Diet A and Diet B (Pre- and Post-intervention).

Similar weight profiles after unmodified or sugar reformulated product consumption support the view that healthy volunteers may energy compensate whilst consuming sugar-reduced products which may have contributed to the lack of effect on cardiovascular risk factors. Further research is required to evaluate physiological and psychological compensatory mechanisms related to sugar reformulated product consumption.