ARS | Publication request: Fruit juice consumption decreases the proportion of children with inadequate intakes of key nutrients: NHANES 2003-2006

Submitted to: Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: February 24, 2010
Publication Date: April 24, 2010
Citation: Zanovec, M., Fulgoni, V., O'Neil, C., Nicklas, T. 2010. Fruit juice consumption decreases the proportion of children with inadequate intakes of key nutrients: NHANES 2003-2006 [abstract]. Journal of Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. 24:561.2.

Technical Abstract: Fruit juice (FJ) consumption has been under scrutiny despite its nutrient profile. NHANES (2003–2006) data were used to compare the proportion of children ages 2–18 years with intakes of selected vitamins/minerals below recommended levels among consumers (n = 3,976; 51% females) and non-consumers (n = 3,274; 49% females) of FJ. Using the National Cancer Institute method for usual intake estimation, the percentage of the population with intakes less than the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) was determined; for nutrients with an Adequate Intake (AI) we also compared the percentage of the population that consumed greater than the AI. A Z-statistic for differences in population proportions was used to determine significance (p less than 0.05). Compared to FJ consumers, a significantly higher percentage of non-consumers had intakes below the EAR for vitamin A (24.4 +/- 2.5 vs. 42.2 +/- 2.5 %), vitamin C (0.1 +/- 0.2 vs. 38.9 +/- 4.1 %), folate (8.8 +/- 1.5 vs. 22.1 +/- 2.4 %), phosphorus (11.6 +/- 2.1 vs. 21.3 +/- 2.6 %), and magnesium (25.8 +/- 1.7 vs. 46.1 +/- 2.0 %). A greater percentage of FJ consumers exceeded the AI for calcium (51.3 +/- 2.9 vs. 34.1 +/- 2.3 %) and potassium (2.4 +/- 0.5 vs. 0.5 +/- 0.2 %) as compared to non-consumers. Males and females benefited similarly from FJ consumption. FJ consumption improves nutrient adequacy and should be encouraged.