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Carbohydrate absorption from fruit juice in young children
M M Smith1, M Davis, F I Chasalow
1Department of Pediatrics, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11219.
Insights
White grape juice showed better carbohydrate absorption than apple juice in young children. This study found less malabsorption with white grape juice, suggesting it may be a better choice for infants and toddlers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Gastroenterology
- Carbohydrate Metabolism
Background:
- Fruit juice is commonly introduced in the diets of infants and toddlers.
- Understanding carbohydrate absorption from different juices is crucial for pediatric health.
- Apple and white grape juices are popular choices for young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare carbohydrate absorption in healthy children after consuming apple juice versus white grape juice.
- To evaluate potential differences in malabsorption rates between the two juices.
- To assess age-specific responses in infants and toddlers.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind crossover study was conducted with 28 healthy children (18 infants, 10 toddlers).
- Participants underwent breath hydrogen (H2) testing after consuming age-specific servings of apple or white grape juice.
- Positive H2 responses (> 20 ppm) indicated incomplete carbohydrate absorption.
Main Results:
- Carbohydrate malabsorption was significantly more frequent after apple juice (54%) than white grape juice (19%).
- Toddlers showed significantly higher peak breath H2 responses after apple juice compared to white grape juice.
- While differences were not significant in infants, toddlers exhibited greater malabsorption from apple juice than infants.
Conclusions:
- White grape juice resulted in less carbohydrate malabsorption compared to apple juice in healthy 6- and 18-month-old children.
- These findings suggest white grape juice may be better tolerated in terms of carbohydrate absorption.
- The study highlights potential differences in juice tolerance related to carbohydrate composition.
Objective:
To compare carbohydrate absorption following ingestion of apple juice and white grape juice in 28 healthy children.
Design:
Randomized, double-blind crossover study.
Setting:
Outpatient pediatric clinic at Maimonides Medical Center.
Participants:
A total of 18 healthy infants (mean age 6.3 months) and 10 toddlers (mean age 18.0 months), representing those ages when juice is first introduced (6 months) and when juice comprises a large portion of the diet (18 months).
Methods:
Breath hydrogen (H2) testing was performed after age-specific servings of white grape juice or apple juice, 4 and 8 ounces respectively, were consumed. These portions provided approximately 1 g of fructose per kg of body weight. Breath H2 responses of > 20 ppm were considered positive, indicating incomplete absorption of fruit juice carbohydrates.
Results:
In the combined age groups, carbohydrate malabsorption occurred more frequently after apple juice consumption (54%) than after white grape juice (19%; P < .001). Significant differences in area under the breath H2 curve (AUC) were also found between the two juices in both age groups. Among toddlers, the differences between the mean peak breath H2 responses were significant (48 ppm after apple juice consumption compared with 12 ppm after white grape juice; P < .001). These differences were not significant in the infant group. Significant differences (P < .05) were seen between the two age groups after consumption of apple juice; the toddlers exhibited a greater number of positive breath H2 responses and higher peak responses compared with the infants. Data from the children who drank both juices showed significant differences in peak breath H2 responses after consumption of apple juice compared with white grape juice (P < .005).
Conclusions:
The study demonstrated less carbohydrate malabsorption following ingestion of white grape juice compared with apple juice in healthy 6- and 18-month-old children.