Carbohydrates and Health

UK carbohydrate intakes
12.27 The UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) provides robust data at national
population level on intakes of carbohydrates, sugar and fibre. Latest available data
covering 2008/09 – 2011/12 were compared with the dietary reference values
set by COMA in 1991. Mean intakes of total carbohydrate met or were close to
meeting the dietary reference value. Mean intakes of non-milk extrinsic sugars
exceeded the current dietary reference value (10% of total dietary energy intake)
in all age groups and were highest in children aged 4-10 years and children aged
11-18 years (14.7% and 15.4% of total dietary energy intake respectively). Sugarssweetened
beverages (including fizzy drinks, energy drinks and squashes and
cordials) provided 30% of non-milk extrinsic sugars intake in the 11-18 year age
group and 16% of intake in younger children and adults. Fruit juice provided 10%
of non-milk extrinsic sugars intake in the 11-18 year age group and 13% in younger
children. Other sources of non-milk extrinsic sugars were table sugar, preserves
and confectionery and biscuits, cakes, buns, pastries and breakfast cereals.
12.28 Mean intakes of dietary fibre (defined as non-starch polysaccharides) in all age
groups were below the current dietary reference value of 18g/day set for adults.
Mean intakes were less than 14g/day in adults and 11-12g/day in children. Cereals
and cereal products were the main sources of fibre intake in all age groups,
followed by vegetables and potatoes. There is evidence from NDNS and other
surveys of a socio-economic gradient in intakes of both sugars and fibre, with
higher intakes of non-milk extrinsic sugars as a percentage of energy for adults and
lower intakes of non-starch polysaccharides for both adults and children in the
lower income groups.
12.29 Changing the definition of sugars from non-milk extrinsic sugars to free sugars
would slightly reduce mean intakes as a percentage of total dietary energy intake,
but recommending that the average population intake of free sugars should not
exceed 5% of total dietary energy means that current mean intakes in all age
groups would be at least twice that recommended and three times that value in
the 11-18 year age group.
12.30 Changing the definition of fibre from non-starch polysaccharides to AOAC would
increase mean intakes by 3-5g in each age group. Setting the dietary reference
value for AOAC fibre at 30g/day for adults means that current mean intakes would
be 10-11g below the dietary reference value for men and 13g below for women. For
children, setting the dietary reference value for AOAC fibre to 15g for the 2-5 year
age group and 20g for the 5-11 year age group means that current mean intakes
would be 4-6g below the dietary reference value. For older children aged 11-16
years, setting the dietary reference value at 25g means that current mean intake
would be 9g below the dietary reference value.
Recommended dietary pattern in relation to carbohydrate
12.31 The evidence considered in this report endorses a dietary pattern concerning
carbohydrates that is based on a variety of food sources but limiting the amounts
consumed of table sugar and rich sources of free sugars, such as preserves and
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