Clinical inquiries. When is it OK for children to start drinking fruit juice?

Full Abstract

Children should be at least 6 months of age and parents should provide only 100% fruit juice in a cup (not a bottle). Intake should be limited to 4 to 6 oz a day until 12 months of age. It's important to reiterate to parents that breastfeeding is the preferred source of infant nutrition for the first 6 (preferably 12) months of life. Sugar-sweetened fruit drinks have been linked to excess weight gain and obesity. Sugar-sweetened beverages provide little nutritional benefit to children and should be restricted.

Author information

Author/s: Stephens, Mark B (MB); Keville, Meaghan P (MP); Hathaway, Nathanael E (NE); Kendall, Susan K (SK);

Affiliation: Uniformed Services Hospital, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: The Journal of family practice (J Fam Pract), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 58 (issue 9) : pp E3

Dates: Created 2009/09/11; Completed 2009/09/29;

PMID: 19744411, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/29/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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