Sugar consumption (higher sugar intake) vs No sugar consumption (lower/no intake)
Early childhood caries (ECC) · Preschool children (<6 years)
Higher sugar consumption is associated with early childhood caries in children under 6 years: pooled OR 1.59 (95% CI 1.50 to 1.68) from 9 cohort studies with no heterogeneity (I2=0%); the body of evidence was not GRADE-rated (ungraded).
1 finding from 1 review
- Sugar consumption and early childhood caries: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. 2025 All outcomesOutcome (ECC) assessed from 9 months to 5 years of age · Population-based birth and childhood cohort studies; multiple countries (Europe, Brazil, Asia, Australia, USA); mostly high-income, six in developing countries (Brazil, Thailand), none in low-income countries · Overall (all 9 meta-analyzed studies pooled)OR 1.59 [1.50, 1.68]9 studiesGRADE not reported