Rosa Walsh, director of scientific research at the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC), told the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) in June about the 2020-21 FDOC research plan. The plan includes two scientific research projects exploring health benefits of 100% orange juice (OJ). The projects, beginning in the new fiscal year, look at determining quantitative analysis of nutrient density in OJ using newer methods, and the impact of OJ on metabolic and other indicators.
The aim of the first project is to demonstrate that OJ is a nutrient-dense beverage that meets recommendations in the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This will build on 2007 research by FDOC’s Registered Dietitian Gail Rampersaud on OJ nutrient density. The study will compare nutrient density scores with other beverages and foods. The budget for this project is estimated at $75,000.
Walsh also presented a study to develop significantly more data linking the nutrients in 100% orange juice to biomarkers. The study will aim to demonstrate the impact of OJ consumption on metabolic indicators such as blood glucose and insulin, and hemoglobin A1C, oxidative stress and/or inflammatory biomarkers, anthropometric measurements and gut microbiome. The goal is to proactively maintain a pipeline of findings by increasing the quality and quantity of data available to be at the forefront of modern conversations in nutrition research. This is a long-term project across fiscal years which is scheduled to wrap up in October 2025. The budget for this project is estimated at $600,000.
The research generated by Walsh’s department is communicated to consumers, health professionals, researchers and policy makers to further promote the health benefits of OJ. A recent example of research information disseminated by the FDOC showed no adverse association between change in body mass index and consumption of 100% OJ among older children.
Source: Florida Department of Citrus
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