Oct 26 2011 --- Orange juice may do more for children's diet and overall health than you think, according to results of a recently published study in Nutrition Research.

Data from this study suggest children (ages 2-18 years) who drink 100 percent orange juice tend to have improved nutrient adequacy and diet quality, as well as certain diet and health parameters.(1) Additionally, the research suggested that consumption of 100 percent orange juice was not associated with overweight or obesity in children.

As part of the study, researchers analyzed data from the 2003-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and found that children who regularly consume 100 percent orange juice tended to have significantly higher intakes of vitamin C, potassium, vitamin B6, folate, dietary fiber and magnesium than non-consumers. None of the children who consumed 100 percent orange juice were below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for vitamin C, while nearly 30 percent of non-consumers were below the EAR. Furthermore, diet quality (as measured by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2005)) was significantly higher in those children consuming 100 percent orange juice than in non-consumers, as was intake of total fruit, fruit juice and whole fruit.

"A growing body of research has painted a clear picture that enhanced nutrient intake and better diet quality are associated with drinking 100 percent orange juice in children," said study co-author Carol E. O'Neil, PhD, MPH, LDN, RD, School of Human Ecology, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. "Our research adds further support to the association between drinking 100 percent orange juice and higher intakes of five important nutrients--vitamin C, folate, magnesium, dietary fiber and potassium--which are generally underconsumed by the U.S. population."(2)

This is the first study that has examined the usual intake of 100 percent orange juice in a nationally representative population, and these data add support to previous studies that found no association between 100 percent fruit juice consumption and increased risk for overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. Furthermore, children who consumed 100 percent orange juice had significantly lower mean LDL cholesterol levels than those who did not consume 100 percent orange juice.

"These findings are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, which conclude that 'for most children and adolescents, intake of 100 percent fruit juice is not associated with body weight,'"(2) said Gail Rampersaud, MS, RD, LDN, Associate in Nutrition Research and Education, University of Florida. "It's encouraging that the overall body of research provides evidence to support children enjoying all of the taste, nutritional and health benefits that 100 percent orange juice offers."

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010, the "total diet" should consist of nutrient-dense foods that provide essential nutrients and health benefits.

"People can feel good about enjoying one hundred percent orange juice daily because it fits many of the key recommendations outlined in the Dietary Guidelines," said Rampersaud. "For example, 100 percent orange juice is more nutrient-dense than many commonly-consumed 100 percent fruit juices, and one 8-ounce serving is a good source of potassium and folate, as well as an excellent source of vitamin C."(3)

Editor's Note: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is an ongoing series of surveys, implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that are designed to assess the health and nutritional status of children and adults in the United States. The NHANES surveys are conducted and analyzed in a way to be representative of the U.S. population. The analysis published in Nutrition Research used 2003-2006 data from more than 7,200 children and adolescents.

(1) O'Neil CE, Nicklas TA, Rampersaud, GC, Fulgoni, VL. 100% orange juice consumption is associated with better diet quality, improved nutrient adequacy, and no increased risk for overweight/obesity in children. Nutrition Research. 2011;31:673-682.
(2) U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. 7th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, December 2010.
(3) Rampersaud GC. A comparison of nutrient density scores for 100% fruit juices. Journal of Food Science. 2007;72(4):S261-S266.