Research published in the January 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association shows U.S. children and adolescents are drinking more fruit-flavored beverages and carbonated soft drinks than 100 percent juice -- in many cases, much more. Researchers from the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences analyzed the drinking habits of more than 10,000 children from various age groups. They found although most kids fulfill the guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics for juice intake, their consumption of carbonated beverages and fruit-flavored drinks surpasses their intake of fruit juice as early as age 5. "By the time children turn 13 years old, they are drinking nearly four times more carbonated soft drinks than 100 percent juice," said lead researcher Gail Rampersaud. "Consuming 100 percent fruit juice has been positively associated with children achieving recommended nutrient intakes," said registered dietitian and ADA spokewoman Sheah Rarback in Miami. "In fact, 100 percent juice supplies a variety of nutrients such as vitamins A and C, folate and magnesium (while) fruit-flavored drinks that are fortified with vitamin C are not as nutritious as 100 percent juice." The researchers caution that fruit-flavored drinks and "-ades" often contain 10 percent or less real fruit juice, have added sweeteners and might not supply the critical nutrients in amounts found in 100 percent juice.

ADULTS HAVE STRONG INFLUENCE ON TEEN SMOKING

A survey of young teens suggests the behavior of parents and other adults plays a large role in getting teens to start smoking cigarettes. Researchers at San Diego State University surveyed 478 seventh- and eighth-graders, ages 12 to 15, who had never tried "even a puff" of tobacco. The students, more than half of whom were Hispanic, took a smoking survey on two occasions, spaced a year apart. More than 6 percent reported they tried smoking one year after the first survey. Those teens, researchers found, reported a greater ease of getting cigarettes from parents and more cigarette offers from adults who were not their parents were more likely to try smoking during the subsequent year. Also, kids who found it easy to get cigarettes from their parents were not necessarily getting cigarette handouts. Instead, researchers discovered more than 99 percent of the teens reported their parents would be upset about their smoking cigarettes -- a finding that suggests students might have been swiping cigarettes from their parents. Sales laws have succeeded in decreasing commercial availability of tobacco to teens, although adolescent smoking rates have not yet decreased as a result. Most smokers start before age 18, and more than 3,000 young people become regular smokers daily, the researchers reported.

(Editors: For more information about JUICE, contact Bridget McManamon at 312-899-4769 or bmcmana@eatright.org. For TEEN SMOKING, Susan I. Woodruff at swoodruf@mail.sdsu.edu)