NEW international guidelines recommending that adults and children reduce their daily intake of sugar are partly based on research by North-East scientists.

The World Health Organization has urged adults and children to reduce their consumption of free sugar to less than 10 per cent of their total energy intake.

A further reduction to below five per cent or roughly six teaspoons per day would provide additional health benefits, according to the WHO.

The new guidelines were influenced by a team headed by Professor Paula Moynihan, professor of nutrition and oral health at Newcastle University, who highlighted the link between advanced dental decay and high concentrations of sugar.

Free sugars refer to monosaccharides (such as glucose, fructose) and disaccharides (such as sucrose or table sugar) added to foods and drinks by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit juice concentrates.

“We have solid evidence that keeping intake of free sugars to less than 10 per cent of total energy intake reduces the risk of overweight, obesity and tooth decay,” says Dr Francesco Branca, from the WHO.

Prof Moynihan, and Dr Sarah Kelly scrutinised all the studies which had looked at relationships between amount of sugars consumed and levels of tooth decay. They found 55 relevant studies worldwide, dating back to 1950.

“Such authoritative recommendations as those issued by WHO, provide the driving force for change,” the professor said.

Prof Moynihan added: “The public need better information on the health risks of sugary foods and drinks and there needs to be clearer information on the levels of sugars in our foods and drinks. We need to make it easier for people to make healthier choices by ensuring that options lower in added sugars are made widely available.”