Background: Childhood obesity is a growing health concern and added sugar intake has been associated with increased obesity risk. Emerging evidence suggests that miR-143-5p and miR-223-3p are involved in metabolic regulation. Therefore, this study evaluated their plasma expression according to added sugar intake and their association with cardiometabolic risk parameters. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 91 children aged 6–12 years, comprising 44 with normal weight and 47 with overweight/obesity. Anthropometric measurements, clinical characteristics, and dietary added sugar intake were assessed. Plasma expression of miR-143-5p and miR-223-3p was quantified by RT-qPCR. Results: Compared with low added sugar intake, high added sugar intake was associated with lower plasma miR-143-5p expression and higher miR-223-3p expression. Both miR-143-5p and miR-223-3p expression levels were higher in children with overweight/obesity and insulin resistance than in their respective counterparts. In adjusted analyses, neither miRNA was associated with cardiometabolic risk parameters. However, added sugar intake was positively associated with miR-223-3p expression (β = 0.188, 95% CI: 0.022, 0.354) and glucose levels (β = 1.944, 95% CI: 0.133, 3.755). Conclusions: These findings suggest that higher added sugar intake is associated with altered circulating miRNA expression and higher fasting glucose concentrations in school-aged children.

Background: Childhood obesity is a growing health concern and added sugar intake has been associated with increased obesity risk. Emerging evidence suggests that miR-143-5p and miR-223-3p are involved in metabolic regulation. Therefore, this study evaluated their plasma expression according to added sugar intake and their association with cardiometabolic risk parameters. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 91 children aged 6 to 12 years were included (44 normal weight and 47 with overweight/obesity). Anthropometric, and clinical parameters, and dietary added sugar consumption were analyzed. RT-qPCR was performed to assess the expression of miR-143-5p and miR-223-3p in plasma. Results: Compared with low added sugar intake, high added sugar intake was associated with lower plasma miR-143-5p expression and higher miR-223-3p expression. Both miR-143-5p and miR-223-3p expression levels were higher in children with overweight/obesity and insulin resistance than in their respective counterparts. In adjusted analyses, neither miRNA was associated with cardiometabolic risk parameters. However, added sugar intake was positively associated with miR-223-3p expression (β = 0.188, 95% CI: 0.022, 0.354) and glucose levels (β = 1.944, 95% CI: 0.133, 3.755). Conclusions: High added sugar intake was associated with lower miR-143-5p expression, higher miR-223-3p expression, and increased fasting glucose concentrations in school-aged children, suggesting early alterations in metabolic regulation.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide. Coffee and its bioactive compounds, including caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid, have attracted increasing attention because of their potential health benefits. Evidence from pediatric and adult populations supports a positive association between fructose intake from sugar-sweetened beverages and the increasing prevalence of obesity and other non-communicable diseases. In this context, coffee consumption may represent a potential protective dietary factor against high fructose intake-induced metabolic alterations, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and alterations in gut microbiota composition. Therefore, this review summarizes current evidence on the potential role of coffee consumption and coffee-derived bioactive compounds in modulating fructose-induced metabolic alterations and discusses the mechanisms involved. However, current evidence from human studies remains limited, and the clinical relevance of the beneficial effects observed in experimental models requires confirmation through well-designed clinical trials.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide. Coffee and its bioactive compounds, including caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid, have received increasing attention due to their potential contribution to coffee-associated health benefits. Evidence from pediatric and adult populations supports a positive association between fructose intake from sugar-sweetened beverages and the increasing prevalence of obesity and other non-communicable diseases. In this context, coffee consumption may represent a potential protective dietary factor against high fructose intake-induced metabolic alterations, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, and alterations in gut microbiota composition. However, human evidence on the effects of coffee consumption on fructose-related metabolic alterations remains limited, making it difficult to determine whether the benefits observed in animal models translate to humans. Therefore, this review summarizes current evidence on the potential role of coffee consumption and coffee-derived bioactive compounds in modulating fructose-induced metabolic alterations and discusses the mechanisms involved.