A new study suggests that exposure to sugar during the first 1,000 days of life (from conception to age two) may have lasting effects on health decades later. Researchers leveraged a natural experiment: post-World War II sugar rationing in Britain, which ended in September 1953, leading to a sharp increase in sugar consumption for children born after that date.
By analyzing data from over 64,000 people born between 1951 and 1956, the team found that those who experienced more rationing during their early years had lower rates of several cancers (breast, prostate, liver, rectal, and lung), with the strongest effect observed for liver cancer. Additionally, these individuals showed signs of slower biological aging and maintained healthier diets later in life. The study also linked lower sugar exposure in early life to reduced risks of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
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