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Table 4 Research Question Prioritization Results

From: Research needs and prioritizations for studies linking dietary sugars and potentially related health outcomes

Average score

Outcome Group

Research Questions

4.20

Body weight or body composition

What is the long-term (>1 year) effect of a reduction in the intake of sugars on body weight or body composition in overweight/obese adults and children?

4.03

Body weight or body composition

Do dietary sugars have a different impact on the location of body fat deposition than other macronutrients?

3.95

Satiety or Appetite

a. What is the effect of sugars intake on satiety and hunger mechanisms? b. Does sugars intake affect leptin and ghrelin levels, appetite, or fullness? c. What are the different effects on satiety and appetite between different types of sugars (fructose, sucrose, high fructose corn syrup, honey, added sugar vs. intrinsic)?

3.83

Diet quality and body weight

Does food source (i.e., food vs. beverage) modify the effect of sugars intake on total caloric intake, body weight, and body composition?

3.69

Satiety or Appetite

a. What are the mechanistic pathways in the brain linking sugar consumptions to a reward system (“addictive behavior”) or insulin and glycemic levels? b. Does taste play a role in the process?

3.68

Diabetes risk

How do differing patterns of dietary sugar consumption affect glycemia in pre-diabetic children, adolescents and adults, and can dietary sugar contribute to the onset of type 2 diabetes?

3.68

Liver fat or liver health

a. What are some factors that may modify the effects of dietary sugars on liver fat? b. Does sugar consumption contribute to fatty liver independent of other factors? c. Does sugars intake modify liver fat in the absence of a hyper-caloric diet?

3.67

Cardiovascular disease risks

What factors modify the effects of sugars intake on cardiovascular disease outcomes?

3.65

Diabetes risk

What factors modify the effects of sugars intake on the complications of diabetes?

3.55

Cardiovascular disease risks

Does type, form, source, or timing of dietary sugars have different effects on cardiovascular disease outcomes?

3.55

Diet quality

How does a diet high in added sugars affect the overall diet quality as compared to a low sugars diet?

3.30

Diabetes risk

What are the effects of sugars intake on the complications of diabetes (type 1 or type 2 diabetes)?

3.15

Cardiovascular disease risks

What are the effects of sugars intake on intermediate markers of atherosclerosis?

2.98

Satiety or Appetite

Is physical activity associated with a reduced sugars intake in adults?