Fruit juice consumption is associated with improved nutrient adequacy in children and adolescents: the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2006

Public Health Nutr. 2012 Oct;15(10):1871-8. doi: 10.1017/S1368980012000031. Epub 2012 Mar 23.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the contribution of 100 % fruit juice (FJ) consumption to dietary adequacy of shortfall nutrients by children and adolescents.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Secondary analysis of data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Subjects: Children and adolescents aged 2-18 years (n 7250). Usual intake, determined from two 24 h dietary recalls, was calculated using the National Cancer Institute method. The population was dichotomized into consumers or non-consumers of 100 % FJ. The age/gender-specific percentage of the two consumption groups with intakes less than the Estimated Average Requirement or that exceeded the Adequate Intake for selected nutrients was determined. A Z-statistic for differences in population proportions was used to determine significance (P < 0.05).

Results: Children aged 2-5 years had the highest percentage of 100 % FJ consumers (71.1 %), followed by children aged 6-12 years (57.0 %) and adolescents aged 13-18 years (44.5 %). Compared with 100 % FJ consumers, a significantly higher percentage of non-consumers had intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement for vitamin A (24.4 (SE 2.5) % v. 42.2 (SE 2.5) %), vitamin C (0.1 (SE 0.2) % v. 38.9 (SE 4.1) %), folate (8.8 (SE 1.5) % v. 22.1 (SE 2.4) %), P (11.6 (SE 2.1) % v. 21.3 (SE 2.6) %) and Mg (25.8 (SE 1.7) % v. 46.1 (SE 2.0) %). A greater percentage of 100 % FJ consumers exceeded the Adequate Intake for K (2.4 (SE 0.5) v. 0.5 (SE 0.2) %) compared with non-consumers.

Conclusions: Consumption of 100 % FJ is associated with improved nutrient adequacy and can contribute to a healthy diet.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Distribution
  • Beverages / statistics & numerical data*
  • Child
  • Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / physiology
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Fruit*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Micronutrients / administration & dosage
  • Nutrition Policy*
  • Nutrition Surveys*
  • Nutritional Requirements*
  • Nutritional Status
  • Nutritive Value
  • United States

Substances

  • Micronutrients