An umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses published in February 2025 (Emma L. Beckett, 2025) showed some health benefits associated with the consumption of 100% fruit juice, with few health risks.
This systematic review was conducted using four databases: Medline, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and CINAHL, accessed up to December 20, 2022. It identified 15 systematic reviews related to the consumption of 100% fruit juice. No relevant studies on 100% vegetable juice were found.
These 15 systematic reviews included 51 primary meta-analyses, 6 dose-response studies, and 87 sub-analyses, and covered a consumption range from 50 ml to 1200 ml/day and exposure times ranging from a few hours to years. The studies were conducted in Europe, Asia, and North and South America, primarily on healthy adults, participants with cardiovascular disease risk factors, and subjects with type 2 diabetes.
Of the 51 primary meta-analyses, including both interventional and prospective cohort studies:
- Ten meta-analyses demonstrated that consuming 100% fruit juice significantly improved blood pressure (4 studies), inflammation (3), and stroke mortality (1);
- Three meta-analyses reported an adverse relationship with cardiovascular mortality (1), prostate cancer (1), and the risk of type 2 diabetes (1);
- The remaining 38 analyses reported no effect on blood lipids, body composition, liver function, metabolic health, cancer, or inflammation.
Clinical evidence regarding the health effects of consuming 100% fruit juice is mixed, suggesting a neutral or positive effect on health. While this analysis highlights limitations in the selected studies, it raises questions about the appropriateness of classifying 100% fruit juice within the category of sugary drinks and the lack of distinction between 100% juice and sugary drinks in nutritional education messages. Although 100% fruit juice contains less fiber and more free sugars than whole fruit, it does provide vitamin C and phytonutrients such as flavonoids.
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Health benefits and risks associated with consuming 100% fruit juice
An umbrella review of systematic reviews with meta-analyses published in February 2025 (Emma L. Beckett, 2025) showed some health benefits associated with the consumption of 100% fruit juice, with few health risks.
This systematic review was conducted using four databases: Medline, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and CINAHL, accessed up to December 20, 2022. It identified 15 systematic reviews related to the consumption of 100% fruit juice. No relevant studies on 100% vegetable juice were found.
These 15 systematic reviews included 51 primary meta-analyses, 6 dose-response studies, and 87 sub-analyses, and covered a consumption range from 50 ml to 1200 ml/day and exposure times ranging from a few hours to years. The studies were conducted in Europe, Asia, and North and South America, primarily on healthy adults, participants with cardiovascular disease risk factors, and subjects with type 2 diabetes.
Of the 51 primary meta-analyses, including both interventional and prospective cohort studies:
Clinical evidence regarding the health effects of consuming 100% fruit juice is mixed, suggesting a neutral or positive effect on health. While this analysis highlights limitations in the selected studies, it raises questions about the appropriateness of classifying 100% fruit juice within the category of sugary drinks and the lack of distinction between 100% juice and sugary drinks in nutritional education messages. Although 100% fruit juice contains less fiber and more free sugars than whole fruit, it does provide vitamin C and phytonutrients such as flavonoids.
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