Association between change in self-reported sugar intake and a sugar biomarker (δ(13)C) in children at increased risk for type 1 diabetes

We examined whether change in added sugar intake is associated with change in δ(13)C, a novel sugar biomarker, in thirty-nine children aged 5–10 years selected from a Colorado (USA) prospective cohort of children at increased risk for type 1 diabetes. Reported added sugar intake via FFQ and δ(13)C in erythrocytes were measured at two time points a median of 2 years apart. Change in added sugar intake was associated with change in the δ(13)C biomarker, where for every 1-g increase in added sugar intake between the two time points, there was an increase in δ(13)C of 0⋅0082 (P = 0⋅0053), independent of change in HbA1c and δ(15)N. The δ(13)C biomarker may be used as a measure of compliance in an intervention study of children under the age of 10 years who are at increased risk for type 1 diabetes, in which the goal was to reduce dietary sugar intake.