Okronipa, H.Arimond, M.Young, R.R.Arnold, C.D.Adu-Afarwuah, S.Tamakloe, S.M.Bentil, H.J.Ocansey, M.E.Kumordzie, S.M.Oaks, B.M.Dewey, K.G.2019-05-202019-05-202019-03DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxy293Vol.149(3): pp 532-541http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/handle/123456789/30124Background: Whether consuming sweet foods early in life affects sweet food preferences and consumption later in childhood is unknown. Objective: We tested the hypothesis that exposure to a slightly sweet lipid-based nutrient supplement (LNS) early in life would not increase preference for or consumption of sweet items at preschool age. Methods: We followed up children who had participated in a randomized trial in Ghana in which LNS was provided to 1 group of women during pregnancy and 6 mo postpartum and to their infants from ages 6-18 mo (LNS group). The control group (non-LNS group) received iron and folic acid during pregnancy or multiple micronutrients during pregnancy and 6 mo postpartum, with no infant supplementation. At 4-6 y, we obtained data from caregivers on children's food and beverage preferences and consumption (n = 985). For a randomly selected subsample (n = 624), we assessed preference for sweet items using a photo game (range in potential scores, 0-15). For the photo game and reported consumption of sweet items, we examined group differences using predetermined noninferiority margins equivalent to an effect size of 0.2. Results: Median (quartile 1, quartile 3) reported consumption of sweet items (times in previous week) was 14 (8, 23) in the LNS group and 16 (9, 22) in the non-LNS group; in the photo game, the number of sweet items selected was 15 (11, 15) and 15 (11, 15), respectively. The upper level of the 95% CI of the mean difference between LNS and non-LNS groups did not exceed the noninferiority margins for these outcomes. Caregiver-reported preferences for sweet items also did not differ between groups (P = 0.9). Conclusion: In this setting, where child consumption of sweet foods was common, exposure to a slightly sweet LNS early in life did not increase preference for or consumption of sweet foods and beverages at preschool age. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00970866.enSweet foodSugar-sweetened beveragePreferenceConsumptionLipid-based nutrient supplementsChildrenGhanaArticle