Evaluation of a novel biomarker of added sugar intake (δ13C) compared with self-reported added sugar intake and the Healthy Eating Index-2010 in a community-based, rural US sample. Issue 3 (23rd April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hedrick, Valisa E; Davy, Brenda M; Wilburn, Grace A; Jahren, A Hope; Zoellner, Jamie M
• Is Part Of: Public health nutrition. Volume 19:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 429
• Page End: 436
• Publication Date: 2015-04-23
• Subjects: Added sugar, -- Biomarker, -- Dietary assessment, -- Dietary quality; Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutrition policy -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 613.2
• DOI: 10.1017/S136898001500107X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-9800

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: The δ 13 C value of human blood is an emerging novel biomarker of added sugar (AS) intake for adults. However, no free-living, community-based assessments of comparative validity of this biomarker have been conducted. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine if Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) score, SoFAAS score (HEI-2010 sub-component for solid fat, alcohol and AS), AS and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intakes were associated with δ 13 C value of fingerstick blood in a community-based sample of adults, while controlling for relevant demographics. Design: A cross-sectional analysis of data obtained from assessments of BMI, dietary intake using 24 h recalls and a fingerstick blood sample was completed. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, multiple linear regression and one-way ANOVA. Setting: Rural Southwest Virginia, USA. Subjects: Adults ( n 216) aged >18 years who consumed at least 837 kJ/d (200 kcal/d) from SSB. Results: This sample of adult participants with low socio-economic status demonstrated a mean HEI-2010 score of 43·4 (sd 12·2), mean SoFAAS score of 10·2 (sd 5·7), mean AS intake of 93 (sd 65) g/d and mean blood δ 13 C value of −18·88 (sd 0·7) ‰. In four separate regression models, HEI-2010 ( R 2 =0·16), SoFAAS ( R 2 =0·19), AS ( R 2 =0·15) and SSB ( R 2 =0·14) predicted δ 13 C value (all P ≤0·001). Age was also predictive of δ 13 C value, but not sex or race. Conclusions: These findings suggest that fingerstick δ 13 C value has the potential to be a minimally invasive method for assessing AS and SSB intake and overall dietary quality in community-based settings. Strengths, limitations and future areas of research for using an objective δ 13 C biomarker in diet-related public health studies are discussed.