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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2012

Carol E O'Neil*
Affiliation:
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 261 Knapp Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
Theresa A Nicklas
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX, USA
Michael Zanovec
Affiliation:
Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 261 Knapp Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
Ronald E Kleinman
Affiliation:
Department of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Victor L Fulgoni III
Affiliation:
Nutrition Impact, LLC, Battle Creek, MI, USA
*
*Corresponding author: Email coneil1@lsu.edu
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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.

Information

Type
Research paper
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2012
Figure 0

Table 1 Consumption of 100 % FJ by age group: children and adolescents aged 2–18 years, NHANES 2003–2006

Figure 1

Table 2 Demographic characteristics by levels of 100 % FJ consumption and non-consumption: children and adolescents aged 2–18 years, NHANES 2003–2006

Figure 2

Table 3 UI and percentage of individuals below the EAR or above the AI for key nutrients by consumption and non-consumption of 100 % FJ and age group: children and adolescents aged 2–18 years, NHANES 2003–2006