Can pure fruit and vegetable juices protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease too? A review of the evidence.
While it is widely accepted that fruit and vegetables (F&V) lower the risk of cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD), the role of pure fruit and vegetable (PFV) juices is often downplayed. This review poses two questions: Are the protective benefits of F&V dependent upon constituents lacking in PFV juices (e.g. fibre)? Do PFV juices impact on disease risk when considered separately from F&V? Studies comparing the effects of fibre and antioxidants were reviewed, yielding the finding that the impact of F&V may relate more strongly to antioxidants, than to fibre. For the second question, high-quality published studies that considered PFV juices were reviewed. The impact of PFV juices on cancer risk was weakly positive, although a lack of human data and contradictory findings hampered conclusions. For CVD, there was convincing evidence from epidemiological and clinical studies that PFV juices reduced risk via a number of probable mechanisms. It was concluded that the view that PFV juices are nutritionally inferior to F&V, in relation to chronic disease risk reduction, is unjustified.
Ruxton
Carrie H S
CH
Nutrition Communications, Front Lebanon, Cupar, UK. carrie@nutrition-communications.com
Gardner
Elaine J
EJ
Walker
Drew
D
D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001628:Beverages; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014675:Vegetables
D000975:Antioxidants; D004043:Dietary Fiber