Pure fruit juice consumption linked to asthma at age 11, but not later ages

Pure fruit juice consumption was associated with asthma prevalence at age 11 years, but not at later ages or with overall asthma prevalence from age 11 to 20 years, according to data published in Preventive Medicine Report.

“Pure fruit juice can be both fresh juice and bottled juice from concentrate and never contains added sugars, artificial sweeteners or components as artificial colors and preservatives,” Floor R. Scheffers, MD, from the Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in Bilthoven, the Netherlands, and colleagues wrote. “Findings of previous research on the association between pure fruit juice consumption and asthma are inconsistent. Negative, positive and no associations have been observed. Most research has been performed in early and middle childhood.”

Researchers studied the association of consumption of pure fruit juice, sugar-sweetened beverages and whole fruit with asthma prevalence among 3,046 children from the Dutch Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy birth cohort from age 11 to 20 years. Participants self-reported consumption of pure fruit juice, sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit at age 11, 14, 17 and 20 years. Participants’ parents reported asthma prevalence at the same time points. Asthma was defined based on physician diagnosis of asthma, wheezing and prescription of asthma medication in the past 12 months.

Pure fruit juice consumption was most frequent at age 14 years, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption was most frequent at age 17 years, and whole fruit was consumed most frequently at age 11 years.

Researchers reported no overall association with asthma prevalence from age 11 to 20 years for pure fruit juice, sugar-sweetened beverages and whole fruit consumption. However, results confirmed the association between pure fruit juice consumption and asthma prevalence at age 11 years.

“While we confirmed the association between pure fruit juice consumption and asthma prevalence at age 11 we reported previously, we found no evidence that pure fruit juice, sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit consumption were associated at later ages or with overall prevalence of asthma from 11 to 20 years,” the researchers wrote.

In addition, high consumption of pure fruit juice of 7 or more gallons per week was associated with a higher prevalence of asthma compared with consumption of less than 1 gallon per week (OR = 1.782; 95% CI, 1.11-2.98). This association was no long present at age 14, 17 and 20 years, according to the researchers.

No associations for sugar-sweetened beverages and whole fruit consumption with asthma prevalence were reported at any age.

“Based on our findings and the evidence from previous studies, we cannot yet answer the question whether pure fruit juice is more similar to whole fruit or to sugar-sweetened beverages in relation to asthma,” the researchers wrote. “However, our findings do not support the idea that pure fruit juice consumption should be limited to prevent asthma development.”