CSI is exhibiting and presenting at the Canadian Diabetes Association Conference in Vancouver, BC, October 10-13, 2012

The Canadian Sugar Institute (CSI) will be exhibiting at the Canadian Diabetes Association / Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism Professional Conference in Vancouver, BC from October 10-13, 2012.

In addition, CSI has been selected to participate in the conference's research poster presentation. The Institute's Manager of Nutrition and Scientific Affairs, Dr. Tristin Brisbois, will be presenting CSI research on added sugars consumption trends in Canada. The abstract below will also be published in an upcoming issue of the Canadian Journal of Diabetes.

Estimated intakes of added sugars in Canada and relationship to trends in body weight Tristin D. Brisbois, PhD and Sandra L. Marsden, MHSc, RD
Nutrition Information Service, Canadian Sugar Institute, Toronto, ON M5J 2R8

Consumption of added sugars in Canada is often reported to be higher than data suggest. The purpose of this study was to estimate and trend added sugars consumption using both Statistics Canada availability data and Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) nutrition survey data. Sugar is defined as sucrose (from sugar cane or sugar beets);Sugars are all monosaccharides and disaccharides (naturally occurring or added); andAdded sugars are all sugars added to foods (i.e., sugar, honey, maple syrup, and corn sweeteners). Consumption of added sugars was estimated by adjusting total availability of added sugars for retail, institutional and household losses. CCHS total sugars data were used to estimate added sugars consumption based on studies that have reported added sugars to account for approximately half of total sugars intake. The contribution of added sugars to total energy intake was also calculated. Results showed close agreement between the two methods; added sugars intakes were estimated to average 53 grams/day and to contribute 10 - 13% of total energy. Added sugars intakes were also shown to be stable or modestly declining as a percent of total energy over the past 3 decades. Trends in sugars consumption plotted against obesity rates show an inverse correlation; this is consistent with current scientific literature, which does not support an association between body weight and sugars consumption. Added sugars consumption in Canada is not increasing. Both availability data and nutrition survey data estimate added sugars to contribute approximately 10-13% of total daily Calories among Canadians.