09.01.08
A daily glass of fruit juice may contribute to an increased risk for diabetes, according to a study recently published in Diabetes Care. The cohort study followed more than 70,000 female nurses for 18 years to determine the links between diet and risk of various diseases through food questionnaires submitted every two years. Part of a larger study that has been publishing results over time, this paper reports on the association between fruits, vegetables and/or fruit juice and the onset of type 2 diabetes during the 18 years of follow-up. Having more than three cups per month of apple or grapefruit juice increased the risk of type 2 diabetes compared with having less than one cup a month. Similarly, drinking one or more cups of orange juice per day increased the risk of diabetes by about 24% compared with drinking less than one cup a month. Women who drink a daily glass of fruit juice are 18% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, but those who eat three pieces of fruit instead appeared to reduce their risk by the same amount. Researchers from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine conducted the study along with other medical and academic centers across the U.S. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) supported this research.