Earlier Introduction to Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Associated With Lower Diet Quality Among WIC Children at Age 3 Years

Objective Examine the association between the timing of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and 100% juice introduction with subsequent diet quality at age 3 years. Design Secondary analysis of a publicly available, national longitudinal dataset. Participants A total of 2,218 children from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Main Outcome Measure Dietary intakes were assessed using a 24-hour dietary recall completed by caregivers of children aged 3 years. Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index Score-2015 (HEI-2015). Analysis Linear regression was used to assess the relationship between the timing of introduction to 100% juice and SSBs with HEI-2015. Adjustments were made for child- and maternal-related factors. Results Delayed introduction of SSBs during the first 2 years of life was associated with an increased HEI-2015 score. In adjusted analyses, for every 1-month delay in the introduction, there was a 0.09-point increase (95% confidence interval, 0.04–0.13) in the HEI-2015 score at 3 years. Conclusions and Implications Earlier introduction to SSBs may be associated with subsequent lower diet quality in WIC participants. This association may be driven by total fruit, whole grains, and added sugars HEI component scores. Further research is needed to support changes to existing WIC nutrition practices regarding SSBs and 100% juice.