Meta-analysisindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-FRU-102 standard review

100% fruit juice and blood sugar markers

100 % Fruit juice and measures of glucose control and insulin sensitivity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Overview

Murphy MM et al.. J Nutr Sci 2017 · PMID 29299307 · DOI 10.1017/jns.2017.63

In 18 short trials, pure fruit juice did not change fasting glucose, insulin or HbA1c; the review was funded by the juice industry.

Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: low

Study explained simply

What did the researchers want to find out?: Pool RCTs on juice and glucose.
How was the study done?: Meta-analysis.
How many people, animals or samples were studied?: 18 RCTs.
What was actually found?: No significant effect.
How large was the observed effect?: Glucose -0.13 mmol/L (ns).
What do the results mean in everyday life?: Small amounts of pure juice are unlikely to upset glucose markers in the short term.
What are the study's limitations?: Industry funding; short trials.
What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?: Partial support only for 100% juice, not nectars.
Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?: Applicable.
What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?: It says nothing about weight or long-term diabetes risk.

Authors: Murphy MM et al.
Journal: J Nutr Sci
Year: 2017
Identifier: PMID 29299307 DOI 10.1017/jns.2017.63 · PMC5736636
Verification: verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26 + Crossref works API
Retracted: no
Corrections: none
Extent checked: abstract only
Conflicts of interest and funding: Funded by the Juice Products Association; all authors employed by Exponent, Inc., whose client is the Juice Products Association (full text).

Does 100% fruit juice affect fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR or HbA1c?

Study design: Meta-analysis – Systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs
Population: Adults in RCTs (mostly BMI >25)
Country: International
Period: Searches to about 2017
Sample size: 18 RCTs
Inclusion and exclusion criteria: RCTs of 100% fruit juice with glucose-insulin outcomes.

Results: Fasting glucose -0.13 mmol/L (95% CI -0.28 to 0.01); fasting insulin -0.24 pmol/L (-3.54 to 3.05); HOMA-IR -0.22 (-0.50 to 0.06); HbA1c -0.001% (-0.38 to 0.38); I2 70.6% for glucose. Twelve of 18 trials had some industry funding.
Absolute risks: Not applicable
Authors' conclusion: Neutral effect of 100% fruit juice on glycaemic control.

Orienting tool: AMSTAR 2
Type of assessment: simplified assessment (abstract only)
Full formal assessment: no
Overall risk of bias: high
Rationale: Sponsor-commissioned review; control choice can mask effects of juice sugar.

Null surrogate effects; cannot address weight gain or long-term risk.

The strongest 'supporting' evidence for juice: 100% juice did not worsen glucose markers in short RCTs. It does not apply to nectars or added sugar.

Applicable.

Weak support for occasional 100% juice; industry funding limits confidence.

Multidimensional assessment
Multidimensional assessment
Authenticity of the source	verified
Methodological quality	low
Risk of bias	high
Precision of results	moderate
Directness	indirect
Reproducibility	partly replicated
Consistency with the overall evidence	mixed
Regional transferability	moderate
Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)	not applicable

Independent replication.