Response

Abstract

This research by Kloeblen-Tarver confirming no relationship between preschool children's fruit juice intake and overweight and short stature is important for several reasons. Their sample was primarily minority children from low-income families rather than white children from families with middle or upper socioeconomic status as reported previously ( (1) Skinner J.D Carruth B.R A longitudinal study of children's juice intake and growth the juice controversy revisited. J Am Diet Assoc. 2001; 101: 432-437 Google Scholar ). In their study the percentages of overweight children (34%) and short stature children (30%) exceeded the expected percentages, 25% and 20%, respectively; thus overweight or short stature were concerns in this group. Moreover, these children consumed large quantities of fruit juices, 79% had ≥12 oz daily with a mean of 24 oz; these amounts exceed the amounts provided by vouchers from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). These new data and earlier studies ( (1) Skinner J.D Carruth B.R A longitudinal study of children's juice intake and growth the juice controversy revisited. J Am Diet Assoc. 2001; 101: 432-437 Google Scholar , (2) Skinner J.D Carruth B.R Moran J III., Houck K Coletta F Fruit juice intake is not related to children's growth. Pediatrics. 1999; 103: 58-64 Google Scholar , (3) Alexy U Sichert-Hellert W Kersting M Manz F Schoch G Fruit juice consumption and the prevalence of obesity and short stature in German preschool children results of the DONALD study. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1999; 29: 343-349 Google Scholar ) raise questions about why the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended severely limiting children's fruit juice intake. The evidence suggests that less nutritious beverages (soda pop, fruit drinks) will replace 100% fruit juices, which are nutritious beverages that are well accepted by young children.