A new study recently published on-line in Beverages, that pre-teen girls who drank 100% fruit juice regardless of race, had long-term positive dietary benefits with no adverse effect on weight, throughout adolescence.
During the recent years, among young children the total fruit intake has increased. Teens mostly consume half of the recommended amount of whole fruit per day. Studies indicate the teens who consume 100% juice are more likely to achieve recommended Dietary Guideline for whole fruit compared to teens who didn’t consume any juice.
In fruit consumption there were some racial differences, such as, black girls tended to consume 100% juice at a consistent level during teens despite drop in whole fruit intake. Thus, 100% fruit juice made an important contribution to total fruit intake among youngsters who consumed little whole fruit.
During preadolescence higher consumptions of 100% fruit juice were associated with higher consumptions of both whole fruit and total fruit as well as better quality diets throughout adolescence.
The girls both black and white, who were nonfruit juice consumers had the highest BMI levels, while those who consumed high amount of Juice (≥1.25 cups per day) had the lowest BMI levels.
By the end of teens (ages 19-20 years), girls who consumed 1.25 or more cups per day of 100% fruit juice during adolescence had a BMI that was 1.7 kg/m2 lower (24.1 kg/ m2 vs 25.8 kg/m2) compared to girls who did not drink fruit juice.
For more than 2,100 girls, the study tracked several sets of 3-day diet records as well as height and weight data, over a 10- year period as part of the prospective National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s National Growth and Health Study.
Co-author Chair of the Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Dr. Stephen Daniels, states, for teens by consuming fruit juice in proper quantities has a useful role in a healthful diet. Fruit juice can contribute to achieving adequate intake of fruit which is a challenge for most of the teens.
