Pure fruit juice and chronic diseases

Abstract

Pure fruit juice (without added sugars or other additives) has similarities with both whole fruit and sugar-sweetened beverages. Like whole fruit, pure fruit juice contains vitamin C and flavonoids, but has the low satiety and similar sugar content as sugar-sweetened beverages. While dietary guidelines worldwide consistently promote fruit consumption and discourage drinking sugar-sweetened beverages, dietary guidelines on drinking pure fruit juice differ between countries. This thesis aimed to answer whether drinking pure fruit juice could be a (partial) substitute for eating whole fruit or if it should be discouraged like sugar-sweetened beverages. For this research, data of two cohort studies was used, the Dutch contribution to the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-NL) cohort and the Dutch Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy (PIAMA) birth cohort study. Moderate consumption of pure fruit juice was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases. Pure fruit juice was not associated with type 2 diabetes or asthma. The current body of evidence is still limited. Therefore, it is not advisable to substitute pure fruit juice for whole fruit, mainly because of the low satiety in combination with the high sugar content. Nevertheless, there is no need to discourage pure fruit juice consumption in the same way as sugar-sweetened beverages in dietary guidelines. Moderate consumption of pure fruit juice can be a part of a healthy diet.