Empty calories? Nutrient intake in relation to sugar intake in English adolescents

The relation between the intake of added sugars and other nutrients was examined by analysing the diet of 405 English children aged 11–14 years. For each sex, the nutrient intake of the 30 subjects with the highest intake of added sugars in proportion to energy intake (g/MJ) was compared with the nutrient intake of the 30 subjects with the lowest intake of added sugars in proportion to energy intake. Those eating the highest amount of added sugars consumed less protein and vitamin D compared with those who ate the lowest amounts of added sugars. Some differences in the nutrient intakes of the high and low added sugar groups were observed for girls only, and non‐significant trends were observed in both sexes, tending to suggest that those consuming diets containing low levels of added sugars in proportion to energy (a low preference for sugar) ate a more nutrient‐dense diet and, to some extent, supported the concept of ‘empty calories’. However, when sugars intake was expressed as g weight (and not in proportion to energy), energy intake and consumption of most nutrients were considerably higher in those eating high levels of added sugars, probably because of their higher intake of foods in general.