Iron is required for red blood cell formation. A lack of red blood cells, the cells that carry oxygen and carbon dioxide, results in anemia. Anemic children suffer from many problems including developmental delays.
Ascorbic acid, found in citrus fruits and juices, can significantly increase iron absorption. That's why many doctors recommend children drink orange juice when swallowing iron supplements or multivitamins pills.
Apple juice, which contains much less ascorbic acid than orange juice, is a very popular beverage among children. Actually, young children drink more apple juice than orange juice. This rise in popularity has led to concerns over inadequate iron absorption by apple juice drinking children.
Doctors at Baylor College of Medicine determined that there is no reason for concern. They found no difference in iron absorption when children drink apple juice rather than orange juice.
However, children who drink too much apple juice may complain of stomach pain and even diarrhea. These complaints are the result of the high carbohydrate content of apple juice. Making the diagnosis of what's technically called carbohydrate-induced abdominal pain, is easy if your child has the symptoms after drinking apple juice, then that's the problem. The treatment is also simple less apple juice.
Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
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