Nutrition For Mortals Was There A Great Sugar Conspiracy? (Part Two)
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Dec 10, 2025 Dive into the intriguing world of sugar and health as two Registered Dietitians explore the alleged influence of the sugar industry on dietary guidelines. They discuss the 1965 proposal from the Sugar Research Foundation to shape research favoring sugar over fat. Uncover how historical practices of industry funding in academia led to pivotal conclusions in the 1967 review. While acknowledging industry biases, the hosts ultimately contest the notion of a grand conspiracy, emphasizing the importance of context and nuance in understanding nutrition.
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Letters Reveal Industry Funding Of Review
- John Hickson of the Sugar Research Foundation offered Harvard researchers payment to prepare a review article and expressed clear expectations about its focus.
- Mark Hegstead accepted the payment and correspondence shows the sugar group checked drafts and expressed satisfaction when the review aligned with their hopes.
Review Favored Fat Over Sugar
- The 1967 NEJM review concluded dietary fat and cholesterol had greater impact on serum lipids than carbohydrates.
- That conclusion matched the sugar industry's preference and helps explain why the review pleased funders.
Always Check Funding And Conflicts
- Always check funding disclosures and conflicts of interest when reading nutrition research.
- Understand that disclosure norms evolved; lack of old disclosures doesn't mean unbiased science.
