Habitual intake of fruit juice predicts central blood pressure

Matthew P. Pase, Natalie Grima, Robyn Cockerell, Andrew Pipingas

Despite a common perception that fruit juice is healthy, fruit juice contains high amounts of naturally occurring sugar without the fibre content of whole fruit. Frequent fruit juice consumption may therefore contribute to excessive sugar consumption typical of Western society. Although excess sugar intake is associated with high blood pressure (BP), the association between habitual fruit juice consumption and BP is unclear. The present study investigated the association of fruit juice consumption with brachial and central (aortic) BP in 160 community dwelling adults. Habitual fruit juice consumption was measured using a 12 months dietary recall questionnaire. On the same day, brachial BP was measured and central (aortic) BP was estimated through radial artery applanation. Frequency of fruit juice consumption was classified as rare, occasional or daily. Those who consumed fruit juice daily, versus rarely or occasionally, had significantly higher central systolic BP (F (2, 134) = 6.09, p < 0.01), central pulse pressure (F (2, 134) = 4.16, p < 0.05), central augmentation pressure (F (2, 134) = 5.98, p < 0.01) and central augmentation index (F (2, 134) = 3.29, p < 0.05) as well as lower pulse pressure amplification (F (2, 134) = 4.36, p < 0.05). There were no differences in brachial BP. Central systolic BP was 3-4mmHg higher for those who consumed fruit juice daily rather than rarely or occasionally. In conclusion, more frequent fruit juice consumption was associated with higher central BPs.