Highlights of Research on Juice Consumption and Its Potential Impact on Bodyweight There are some general misconceptions about the appropriateness of 100% fruit juices as part of the diet, especially children’s diets. The truth is that scientific research does not support a link between 100% fruit juice consumption and overweight status in children or adults. A number of recent research studies have been conducted that look at a possible relationship between 100% juice consumption and it potential impact on body weight. Of the studies which are specific to 100% juice consumption and overweight status, most find no connection with consumption up to 12 ounces per day. Highlights from the most recent studies can be found below:
Objective: To investigate the associations between 4 categories of daily 100% juice consumption (0 fl oz, > 0 to 6 fl oz; > 6 to < 12 fl oz; and 12 fl oz) and nutrient and food group intake and weight in children. Design: Cross-sectional study. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Secondary analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002 data. Participants: Children 2 to 11 years of age (n = 3,618). Main Outcome Measures: The relationship between juice consumption, nutrient intake, food group consumption, and weight status was determined, as was the likelihood of overweight and juice consumption. Results: Mean daily juice consumption was 4.1 ounces, which contributed a mean intake of 58 calories (3.3% of total energy intake). Compared to non-consumers, the overall nutritional profile of those consuming 100% juice showed significantly higher intakes of energy, carbohydrate, vitamins C and B6, potassium, riboflavin, magnesium, iron, and folate, and significantly lower intakes of total, fat, saturated fatty acid, discretionary fat and added sugar. Children consuming 100% juice also consumed significantly more servings of total whole fruit than non-consumers. No significant differences were found in weight status and the amounts of 100% juice consumed. There was no difference in the likelihood of being overweight between juice consumers and non-consumers. Conclusions: On average, children consumed less than the maximum amounts of 100% juice recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. 100% juice consumption was associated with better nutrient intake than in the non-consumption group and was not associated with weight status or the likelihood of being overweight in children 2-11 years of age.
Abstract: Studies assessing a relationship between consumption of 100% fruit juice by children and adolescents and weight are contradictory. The purpose of this review was to assess the 9 cross-sectional and 12 longitudinal studies that have looked at this association. Of the 9 cross-sectional studies reviewed, only 3 reported any association. Those studies used small, local convenience samples of preschool children; furthermore, selection criteria were not well defined. One found that preschool children consuming =12 fluid oz/day of 100% fruit juice had a higher prevalence of overweight than those who consumed less than 12 oz/day (32% vs 9%). Later, a separate study showed that this relationship held only for juice. Another study demonstrated an association of overweight and energy from juice. These 3 studies were not nationally representative. Only 3 of the longitudinal studies showed an association between 100% fruit juice consumption and weight; 1 found an association only in adolescent girls, and 2 reported an association in children who were already overweight. None of the longitudinal studies was nationally representative, but 5 had sample sizes of at least 1000, 2 were ethnically diverse, and 3 had geographically separate sites, suggesting that the findings could be applicable to wider populations. Based on the currently available evidence, it can be concluded that there is no systematic association between consumption of 100% fruit juice and overweight in children or adolescents. Data do support consumption of 100% fruit juice in moderate amounts and suggest that consumption of 100% fruit juice may be an important strategy to help children meet the current recommendations for fruit.
This research studied preschool children’s dietary intakes along with parental feeding practices, attitudes, and effects of parental nutrition counseling. All of the 2,081 study subjects were participants in New York's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Parental reports of offering more fruits servings were associated with a decreased risk of adiposity compared to an increased risk found with each increased serving of fruit juice, but again, was limited to the heavier children. Excessive consumption of fruit juice (24-30 ounces per day) was found to promote increases in adiposity, but this association was seen only in children who were already overweight or at risk of overweight (whose BMI’s were high, in the 85th percentile or greater as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Promotion). No association was found among normal weight children. (Note: These large amounts of juice far exceed any current recommendations for preschool children. There also was no association found between overweight (increased adiposity) and juice among any of the children who were consuming amounts recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP guidelines are for 4-6 ounces for children 1-6 years old and 8-12 ounces for those 7-18 years old. The researchers state they did not account for total calorie intake and physical activity, but they have suggested that excess juice consumption may be an indicator of passive overconsumption of all caloric sources. The research paper also did not clarify that only 100 percent fruit juices (which are not sugar-sweetened) were included in the juice category. ”These findings are suggestive of a gene-by-environment interaction for excess weight gain, as the effects of juice intake on adiposity gain are strongest among children who were already the heaviest and most vulnerable to weight gain.” (Note: Currently, the government funded WIC program only allocates about 10 ounces a day for each of the children in the program.)
O’Connor. M. , Yang, S, and Nicklas, T. Beverage Intake Among Preschool Children and Its Effect on Weight Status. Pediatrics. October 2006. 118:4:1010-1018. Baylor College of Medicine researchers evaluated dietary patterns of beverage intakes by children aged 2-5 from the NHANES 1999-2002 database. Included in the analysis was consumption of total calories and 100 percent juices consumed using 24-hour recall obtained by trainer interviewers; other data was collected, including results from a physical examination. Statistical relationships between total calories consumed, amounts of juice consumed and body mass index were then analyzed. Of the 1160 children who had complete data appropriate for the analysis, the researchers determined that only 48 percent of the children were even consuming 100 percent juice. Mean consumption of 100 percent juice was 4.7 ounces daily which the authors state is in keeping with recommended juice intake from the American Academy of Pediatrics. (95th percentile confidence interval: 4.04-5.36 ounces). The researchers then determined there was no relationship between increased total calorie intake, increased juice consumption and body mass index among those who consumed 100 percent juice. The researchers stated that although more prospective research is needed to evaluate all beverage consumption as children age, “the findings of this research support previous studies by Skinner et al and Newby et al that 100 percent fruit juice consumption is not associated with overweight status in preschool-aged children.”
Data on dietary and growth parameters for 1,345 children were provided by the North Dakota Women, Infants and Children’s (WIC) Program for this study that analyzed beverage consumption and obesity parameters. In this analysis, mean consumption of fruit juice (10.8 ounces per day for girls and 10.6 ounces per day for boys) was more than double that reported for children age 2 to 18 years from the 1994-96 and 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals which found a mean consumption of 4.6 ounces per day. The researchers also found that in this WIC population, close to 50% of the children consumed 12 ounces or more fruit juice per day. However, the results of the regression analysis found no association between100% fruit juice intake and weight changes. Although the researchers were not able to control for other major risk factors for obesity, such as parental BMI, physical activity, and television viewing, they postulate that “perhaps children who are more physically active drink more beverages, and thus if we were able to include measures of physical activity (or inactivity) in our models we would better understand associations between beverage intake and weight change.” “Our results are consistent with other prospective studies that have found that fruit juice is not related to childhood obesity….Current scientific evidence does not support a positive association between fruit juice and milk consumption and obesity; hence, they may still be recommended to children in reasonable amounts because they are an important source of nutrients and energy.”
The purpose of this study was to determine if intake of fruits, juices and vegetables is associated with change in body mass index (BMI) among children. The subjects were 8203 girls and 6715 boys, between the ages of 9-14 years, when the study began in 1996. All were participants in the Growing Up Today Study (GUTS). Intake of fruits, 100 percent juices and vegetables was measured using a validated food frequency questionnaire designed specifically for children and adolescents. The outcome measure were changes in BMI and BMI z-scores (scores that are used to gauge growth parameters in children). Growth and weight data were collected over a three-year follow-up period along with evaluation of the food questionnaires. For both the boys and girls, the researchers concluded that there was no association between intake of 100 percent juices, fruits or vegetables (alone or combined) and changes in BMI. The researchers suggest that recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption are well founded but “should not be based on a beneficial effect on weight regulation.”
The researchers used national survey data (1994-96, 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals) to evaluate intake of 100% fruit juices intakes to compare with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) recommendations on fruit juice consumption. The researchers found that mean intakes of 100% juice were within AAP recommendations for all age groups from six months to 18 years (a total of 5,559 children’s data were included in the analysis). Other than the importance of discouraging anything other than breast milk, infant formula and water before a child is six months old, the researchers stated, “There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that in most cases, intake of 100% fruit juice should be restricted in children and adolescents….” “For the majority of children and adolescents…promotion of moderate intakes of 100% fruit juice as part of a healthful and varied diet is consistent with public health recommendations for increasing fruit and vegetable intake to optimize health and reduce risk for chronic disease.”
This study of 72 children (including those enrolled in a long-term longitudinal study) evaluated beverage intake (including 100% juice) and growth parameters over four years, when study participants in the study were ages 24-72 months. Although some of the juice intakes at single interviews showed a higher number of children consuming 12 ounces or more juice per day than did the longitudinal mean, growth parameters did not indicate any overweight in these children. Analysis of the data found there were no statistically significant associations between 100% juice intake and children’s height, weight and body mass index. “In contrast to the Dennison et al study, results of this study consistently showed no relationship between children’s intake of 100% juice and any measure of overweight….” “One hundred percent juices are acceptable, affordable, and nutritious beverages that do not compromise children’s growth.”
Data for this research was derived in part from an ongoing longitudinal study as well as dietary interviews with a total of 105 children. The purpose of the data analysis was to evaluate if excess fruit juice intake (12 ounces or greater) was associated with short stature and obesity in preschool children. The researchers assessed growth parameters and 100% fruit juice intake in children between 24 to 36 months. Growth parameters of children consuming 12 ounces or more per day of 100% fruit juice were compared with those consuming less than 12 ounces per day. The researchers concluded that there were no statistically significant differences in children's height, body mass index, or ponderal index related to fruit juice intake between those consuming more or less than 12 ounces daily. “The consistent lack of relationship between children’s fruit juice intake and growth parameters in our study does not support previous recommendations to limit the intake of 100% juice to less than 12 ounces/day.”
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