Associations of deciles of orange juice consumption with nutrient intake, diet quality, and weight in children using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2016 data

Authors: O'NEIL, CAROL - Louisiana State University Agcenter; NICKLAS, THERESA - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); FULGONI III, VICTOR - Nutrition Impact, Llc

Submitted to: Pediatric Research and Child Health
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/27/2020
Publication Date: 12/1/2020
Citation: O'Neil, C.E., Nicklas, T.A., Fulgoni III, V.L. 2020. Associations of deciles of orange juice consumption with nutrient intake, diet quality, and weight in children using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2016 data. Pediatric Research and Child Health. 4(1):1-14.

Interpretive Summary: One hundred percent orange juice (OJ) is the most commonly consumed 100% fruit juice (FJ) in the United States. Fruit recommendations for children vary by age and gender, but range from 1 cup equivalent to two cups. The US Dietary Guidelines for Americans reports that 100% FJ "can be part of healthy eating patterns;" however, they recommend that at least half the fruit recommendation come from whole fruit since whole fruit is a better source of fiber. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among deciles of orange juice (OJ) consumption with nutrient intake, diet quality, fruit consumption, and weight parameters in children 2-8 and 9-18 years participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2016. Intake was determined using 24-hour dietary recalls. Consumption of OJ by children should be encouraged as part of an overall healthy diet, since it improves nutrient intake and diet quality and is not associated with weight parameters.

Technical Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among deciles of orange juice (OJ) consumption with nutrient intake, diet quality, fruit consumption, and weight parameters in children 2-8 and 9-18 years participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2016. Intake was determined using 24-hour dietary recalls. Primary analyses were based on linear regression of deciles of OJ on energy; nutrients; diet quality, determined by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI); fruit consumption, and weight parameters: weight, body mass index z-score, and percent overweight and obese. Subjects were separated into two age groups: 2-8 and 9-18 years; consumption of OJ was categorized by 10 deciles. All analyses were adjusted for complex sampling design of NHANES and incorporated appropriate sample weights as recommended by the NHANES analytical guidelines; and were performed using SAS release 9.4. Significance was p <0.01 for all analyses. Energy and nutrient intake varied among age groups; except those 2-8 years, energy showed a positive linear association with decile of OJ consumption. Most nutrients,including dietary fiber, folate DFE, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, and potassium showed a positive linear association for all age groups. There was no positive linear association with added sugars in any of the age groups. Total HEI scores and the total fruit subcomponent also showed a positive linear association in all age groups. In separate analyses, there were no linear associations with whole fruit in any age group, although there was for total fruit and fruit juice. There was no association for any of the weight parameters in any age group. Consumption of OJ should be encouraged by children as part of an overall healthy diet, since it improves nutrient intake and diet quality and is not associated with weight parameters.