"Health professionals should encourage replacement of less nutritious beverages with those that are more nutrient-dense or represent more healthful choices such as milk, water, or 100% fruit juice."

- Rampersaud et al. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. January 2003.

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100% Juice Consumption and Body Weight: The Weight of the Scientific Evidence

There are some general misconceptions about the appropriateness of 100% fruit juices as part of the diet, especially children's diets. But the current scientific evidence strongly maintains the nutritional benefits of 100% juice and does not support a relationship between overweight and juice consumption.

Dr. Carol O'Neil and colleagues recently published a review of the literature (1) that looks at the relationship between 100% juice consumption and weight in both children and adolescents. After assessing the totality of the available literature (21 studies, both cross-sectional and longitudinal in design), a clear picture emerged: More than two-thirds of the studies found no association between 100% juice intake and adiposity - even when juice was consumed in amounts exceeding current recommendations.

Additional scientific evidence echoes these findings. Dr. Theresa Nicklas and colleagues have recently published two analyses of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) assessing 100% juice consumption trends among children ages 2- to 11-years old (2) and adolescents ages 12 to 18 (3). These studies also reported no difference in the likelihood of becoming overweight between young juice consumers and nonconsumers.

The research assessing a potential link between overweight in children and consumption of 100% juice is inconsistent, with the weight of the science not finding a relationship. Although a few analyses (4,5) have shown a positive association, the studies have notable limitations. Thus, we strongly urge the Task Force not to suggest guidelines or negative public health messages based on these findings.

The literature also reveals that appropriate consumption of 100% juice is associated with a more nutritious diet overall. Data from publicly available national datasets on food consumption supports the fact that children who include 100% fruit juice in their diet have higher quality diets. Nicklas and colleagues report the following when comparing 100% juice drinkers to nonconsumers aged 2- to 11-years old:

• Consuming more than 6 fluid ounces of 100% juice was associated with decreased intake of total fat and saturated fat, added sugar and discretionary fat.
• 100% juice consumption was not associated with decreased intake of other nutrient-dense foods in the children's diets, such as milk, meat or vegetables.
• 100% juice consumption was associated with increased intake of whole fruit.

Their research related to juice consumption and nutrient intake in adolescents reported similar findings.

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