To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Infants Digest White Grape Juice Better Than Apple or Pear Juice URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/23252.htm Doctor's Guide April 3, 1997
MIAMI -- April 3, 1997 -- Dr. Fima Lifshitz, Chief of Staff of Miami Children's Hospital, citing the results of a clinical study published in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, now recommends white grape juice as the first juice to introduce to infants and toddlers. The study, of which Dr. Lifshitz was the senior author, reported that infants and toddlers digest white grape juice more completely than either apple juice or pear juice. "The fact of the matter," notes Dr. Lifshitz, "is that we have been researching this for quite some time, and study after study shows that infants and toddlers absorb the sugars in white grape juice more completely than they do those found in apple juice-the juice most often introduced as a weaning food. It is probably time that we reassess just what "baby's first juice" should be, and begin introducing white grape instead of apple juice as a matter of course." The study looked at one hundred four healthy children, in three groups of approximately one, three, and five years of age. Each child received age-appropriate servings, in turn, of each of the four juices tested (pear, apple, purple grape and white grape). Breath hydrogen excretion was measured prior to consuming the juice, and at 30-minute intervals for three hours afterward. Parents also completed a questionnaire and tracked symptoms in a log for 24 hours after the juice consumption. In the youngest group (children approximately one year of age), the children digested white and purple grape juice more completely than pear or apple juice. In the middle group (children approximately three years of age), only children drinking pear juice showed incomplete carbohydrate absorption. In the oldest group, no significant differences were identifiable. Across the three age groups, incomplete carbohydrate absorption (as defined as a rise of breath hydrogen above 20 ppm) occurred, overall, 84% of the time following consumption of pear juice, 41% following apple juice, 24% following purple grape juice, and 20% following white grape juice. Dr. Tobias Nobrigot, co-author of the study, explains, "Previous studies suggest that the less complete absorption of the carbohydrates in apple and pear juice is commonly attributed to two factors: the imbalance of fructose and glucose -- in both apple and pear juice that ratio is approximately two to one -- and the presence of sorbitol. White and purple grape contain no sorbitol and the fructose/glucose ratio in each juice is approximately one to one. According to Dr. Nobrigot, "this study indicates, among other things, that young children gradually develop an ability to absorb the sugars in apple and pear juice. The three year old group handled apple juice nicely but was still digesting the pear juice incompletely. By five, all four juices were being digested properly." Many experts agree that juice should be introduced in a cup, not a nippled bottle. Recent studies have also shown that excessive juice consumption can contribute to obesity and failure to thrive in some children. Decisions on proper juice amounts should be made in consultation with a pediatrician. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.