Fruit juice consumption and the prevalence of obesity and short stature inGerman preschool children: Results of the DONALD Study

Background: In recent years, a possible association between excessive consu mption of fruit juice (greater than or equal to 12 fl oz per day) and short stature and/or obesity has been discussed. The association among the consu mption of fruit juice, anthropometric indices, and the overall diet was exa mined during a 3-year period in a sample of healthy preschool children part icipating in the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometrical Longitudinally D esigned (DONALD) Study. Methods: Two hundred five children were examined annually at the ages of 3, 4, and 5 years. Dietary intake was calculated from 3-day weighed diet reco rds. Height was measured using a stadiometer. Weight was measured using an electronic scale. Results: Five children consumed excessive fruit juice continually in all th ree records, 10 children in two records, and 23 children in one record. Non e of the five children with repeatedly excessive fruit juice consumption wa s obese or short. Growth velocity, body mass index, and height standard dev iation score were not correlated with fruit juice consumption. Consumption of fruit juice was inversely correlated with the consumption of all other b everages and the total consumption of all other food. The intake of protein , fat, and carbohydrates of children consuming excessive fruit juice was cl oser to the international dietary preventive guidelines than the intake of children consuming low amounts of fruit juice. Conclusions: In the study sample, even repeatedly excessive fruit juice con sumption had no influence on anthropometric indices. The results do not jus tify a general warning or a general promotion regarding high fruit juice co nsumption in preschool children's diets.