Consumption of Pure fruit juices, sugar-sweetened beverages not linked to Asthma at later age

A recent study found that pure fruit juices, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and whole fruits are not associated with Asthma development at 14, 17, and 20 years except at 11 years of age. The study was published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports.  

With regards to the sugar and fructose content, pure fruit juice is almost similar to sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). However, favorable components like polyphenols can be found in them. In this aspect, pure fruit juice has more similarities to whole fruit. Pure fruit juice was consumed most frequently at the age of 14. Literature shows that SSBs have been associated with higher asthma risk, while whole fruit consumption has been associated with a lower prevalence of asthma symptoms. The Association of asthma with pure fruit juice has been rarely studied. Therefore, Researchers from the Netherlands studied the associations of consumption of pure fruit juice, SSBs, and whole fruit with asthma prevalence in 3046 children of the Dutch Prevention and Incidence of Asthma and Mite Allergy (PIAMA) birth cohort growing up from 11 to 20 years.

Participants were asked to self-report the Consumption of pure fruit juice, SSBs, and fruit at the ages of 11, 14, 17, and 20 years. The presence of asthma was defined based on parental reports of asthma diagnosis ever and having symptoms like wheezing and asthma medication in the last 12 months. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated using generalized linear mixed models accounting for correlation between repeated measurements within subjects.

Results:

• No associations were found between pure fruit juice, SSBs, and fruit consumption and the overall prevalence of asthma from 11 to 20 years.
• An earlier reported association of low pure fruit juice consumption with higher asthma prevalence at the age of 11 years in the PIAMA population was confirmed, but no associations were found at the ages of 14, 17, and 20 years. 

Thus, the researchers confirmed that there is no evidence of consumption of fruit or pure fruit juice or SSBs leading to asthma. 

To read the full article, click here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101877

Scheffers FR, Boer JMA, Gehring U, et al. The association of pure fruit juice, sugar-sweetened beverages, and fruit consumption with asthma prevalence in adolescents growing up from 11 to 20 years: The PIAMA birth cohort study. Prev Med Rep. 2022;28:101877. Published 2022 Jun 27.