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PubMed1998

Comparison of 3 methods for counting fruits and vegetables for fourth-grade students in the Minnesota 5 A Day Power Plus Program.

OBJECTIVE: To compare fruit and vegetable servings calculated from 24-hour dietary recall data using 3 methods: a counting scheme developed for the 5 A Day for Better Health study, a method developed by the University of Minnesota Cancer Prevention Research Unit to quantify total consumption of fruits and vegetables, and a counting scheme based on the US Food and Drug Administration's Reference Amounts. The counting methods differ by food items counted and by serving sizes for those items. SUBJECTS/SETTING: Record-assisted 24-hour dietary recalls were collected from 617 randomly selected fourth-grade students (317 girls, 300 boys) from 23 schools in St Paul, Minn, participating in the Minnesota 5 A Day Power Plus Program. DESIGN: The dietary recalls were analyzed using the Minnesota Nutrition Data System (version 2.6/8a/23). Total servings of fruits and vegetables, servings of vegetables, servings of fruits plus juices, servings of fruit juice, and servings of fruit excluding juice were tallied using each counting method. STATISTICAL ANALYSES: A mixed-model Poisson regression analysis was conducted to compare numbers of servings calculated using the 3 methods. RESULTS: Counts of daily total fruits and vegetables averaged 3.9 servings with the 5 A Day method, 4.1 servings using US Food and Drug Administration Reference Amounts, and 5.1 servings with the Minnesota Cancer Prevention Research Unit method (P < .0001). APPLICATIONS: Because the different counting methods yield different tallies of fruit and vegetable intake, it is important for researchers and practitioners interested in fruit and vegetable consumption to be clear about their uses of the data before choosing a counting scheme.

Child↗

PubMed1998

2-year tracking of children's fruit and vegetable intake.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the tracking of children's fruit and vegetable intake over 2 years. DESIGN: Children in the control group from the Gimme 5 nutrition education intervention trial completed three 7-day food diaries once a year in 1994, 1995, and 1996, beginning when they were in third grade. SUBJECTS: Five hundred sixty-one students from public elementary schools. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Tracking was examined through correlation of fruit and vegetable servings over the 2 years as well as the percent of subjects remaining in the same or adjacent quintiles of fruit and vegetable intake, using the kappa statistic. RESULTS: Tracking of fruit and vegetable intake was fair to moderate over the 2 years. One-year correlations for total fruit and vegetable servings were .37 for boys and .46 for girls; 2-year correlations were .48 for boys and .40 for girls. kappa values for remaining in the same quintile generally exceeded chance rates only for the top and bottom quintiles. No values exceeded .50. APPLICATION/CONCLUSION: The drift in ranking may have been a result of true changes in fruit and vegetable intake or measurement error (i.e., inability to accurately assess actual intake). If this drift reflects true change, it may be difficult for nutrition education programs targeting this age group to demonstrate long-term behavioral effects on fruit and vegetable intake. If the drift is the result of measurement limitations, improved dietary assessment may yield stronger tracking.

Child↗

PubMed2000

Catechin in the Mediterranean diet: vegetable, fruit or wine?

The aim of this study was to determine which type of diet contributes most to plasma concentration of (+)-catechin, a naturally occurring antioxidant flavonoid. Consecutive subjects (n=180) were screened. A blood sample was collected after a fasting period and (+)-catechin measurement in plasma was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using fluorescence detection. Dietary consumption of the last evening meal was assessed by a dietary recall method. Taking fruit, vegetable and wine consumption into account, four types of diet were identified. After adjustment for confounding factors, concentration of (+)-catechin in plasma was three-fold higher in diet with fruit and vegetable but without wine (449.5 microg/l), and four-fold higher in diet with wine but without vegetable and fruit (598.5 microg/l) in comparison to diet without fruit, vegetable and wine (131.6 microg/l). When the consumption of vegetable, fruit and wine was combined, the concentration was the highest (637.1 microg/l) (P<0. 001). Vegetable, fruit and wine were the major determinants of plasma (+)-catechin concentration (P<0.001). This study demonstrates that the highest plasma concentration of (+)-catechin was observed in subjects consuming fruit, vegetable and wine, and its antioxidant and antiaggregant activity could partly explain the relative protection against coronary heart disease (CHD).

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Effect of a diet high in vegetables, fruit, and nuts on serum lipids.

We assessed the effect of a diet high in leafy and green vegetables, fruit, and nuts on serum lipid risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Ten healthy volunteers (seven men and three women aged 33 +/- 4 years [mean +/- SEM]; body mass index, 23 +/- 1 kg/m2) consumed their habitual diet (control diet, 29% +/- 2% fat calories) and a diet consisting largely of leafy and other low-calorie vegetables, fruit, and nuts (vegetable diet, 25% +/- 3% fat calories) for two 2-week periods in a randomized crossover design. After 2 weeks on the vegetable diet, lipid risk factors for cardiovascular disease were significantly reduced by comparison with the control diet (low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, 33% +/- 4%, P < .001; ratio of total to high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, 21% +/- 4%, P < .001; apolipoprotein [apo] B:A-I, 23% +/- 2%, P < .001; and lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], 24% +/- 9%, P = .031). The reduction in apo B was related to increased intakes of soluble fiber (r = .84, P = .003) and vegetable protein (r = -.65, P = .041). On the vegetable compared with the control diet, the reduction in total serum cholesterol was 34% to 49% greater than would be predicted by differences in dietary fat and cholesterol. A diet consisting largely of low-calorie vegetables and fruit and nuts markedly reduced lipid risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Several aspects of such diets, which may have been consumed early in human evolution, have implications for cardiovascular disease prevention.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Thirty years of the vegetative state: clinical, ethical and legal problems.

The vegetative state is the rarest form of disability in patients now frequently rescued from life-threatening severe brain damage by resuscitation and intensive care. Many doctors have never seen such cases, yet it provokes great interest among professionals and the public because of the paradox of a person who is awake yet not aware. The commonest cause is head injury and it is more common in countries with a high incidence of severe head injury. The most consistent brain damage is in the subcortical white matter of the cerebral hemispheres and in the thalami; although the cerebral cortex is often severely damaged, it may be relatively spared. Diagnosis depends on prolonged expert observation to determine that there is no evidence of awareness in spite of a wide range of reflex responses, some of which may involve cortical activity. Functional imaging confirms that there is some residual cortical function in many vegetative patients. Mistaken diagnosis is less likely since the recent definition of clinical criteria for the vegetative state and for the minimally conscious state. Many patients recover consciousness and even regain independence after a month in a vegetative state after head injury, but few do so after non-traumatic insult. The longer the state persists the less likely the recovery, and eventually permanence can be declared. Patients can survive for many years in a vegetative state. Many consider that indefinite survival in a vegetative state is of no benefit to the patient and that there is no moral or legal obligation to continue life-sustaining treatment, including artificial nutrition and hydration. Ethical issues include how to respect the autonomy of the legally incompetent patient, and uphold the right to refuse unwanted treatment. Many cases have been brought to court in several North American, Northern European and some other jurisdictions where it has been ruled that it is legally permissible to withdraw life-sustaining treatment once a patient is declared permanently vegetative, and such withdrawal seems likely to be what that person would want done.

Ethics, Clinical↗

PubMed2006

Fruit and vegetable consumption and stroke: meta-analysis of cohort studies.

BACKGROUND: Increased consumption of fruit and vegetables has been shown to be associated with a reduced risk of stroke in most epidemiological studies, although the extent of the association is uncertain. We quantitatively assessed the relation between fruit and vegetable intake and incidence of stroke in a meta-analysis of cohort studies. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and bibliographies of retrieved articles. Studies were included if they reported relative risks and corresponding 95% CIs of stroke with respect to frequency of fruit and vegetable intake. FINDINGS: Eight studies, consisting of nine independent cohorts, met the inclusion criteria. These groups included 257,551 individuals (4917 stroke events) with an average follow-up of 13 years. Compared with individuals who had less than three servings of fruit and vegetables per day, the pooled relative risk of stroke was 0.89 (95% CI 0.83-0.97) for those with three to five servings per day, and 0.74 (0.69-0.79) for those with more than five servings per day. Subgroup analyses showed that fruit and vegetables had a significant protective effect on both ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. INTERPRETATION: Increased fruit and vegetable intake in the range commonly consumed is associated with a reduced risk of stroke. Our results provide strong support for the recommendations to consume more than five servings of fruit and vegetables per day, which is likely to cause a major reduction in strokes.

Cohort Studies↗

PubMed1995

Lack of improvement in vitamin A status with increased consumption of dark-green leafy vegetables.

There is little evidence to support the general assumption that dietary carotenoids can improve vitamin A status. We investigated in Bogor District, West Java, Indonesia, the effect of an additional daily portion of dark-green leafy vegetables on vitamin A and iron status in women with low haemoglobin concentrations (< 130 g/L) who were breastfeeding a child of 3-17 months. Every day for 12 weeks one group (n = 57) received stir-fried vegetables, a second (n = 62) received a wafer enriched with beta-carotene, iron, vitamin C, and folic acid, and a third (n = 56) received a non-enriched wafer to control for additional energy intake. The vegetable supplement and the enriched wafer contained 3.5 mg beta-carotene, 5.2 mg and 4.8 mg iron, and 7.8 g and 4.4 g fat, respectively. Assignment to vegetable or wafer groups was by village. Wafers were distributed double-masked. In the enriched-wafer group there were increases in serum retinol (mean increase 0.32 [95% CI 0.23-0.40] mumol/L), breastmilk retinol (0.59 [0.35-0.84] mumol/L), and serum beta-carotene (0.73 [0.59-0.88] mumol/L). These changes differed significantly from those in the other two groups, in which the only significant changes were small increases in breastmilk retinol in the control-wafer group (0.16 [0.02-0.30] mumol/L) and in serum beta-carotene in the vegetable group (0.03 [0-0.06] mumol/L). Changes in iron status were similar in all three groups. An additional daily portion of dark-green leafy vegetables did not improve vitamin A status, whereas a similar amount of beta-carotene from a simpler matrix produced a strong improvement. These results suggest that the approach to combating vitamin A deficiency by increases in the consumption of provitamin A carotenoids from vegetables should be re-examined.

Anemia↗

PubMed2003

Assessment of essential and toxic elements in some kinds of vegetables.

Vegetables provide the human body with the essential bioavailable trace elements, and a constant supply of these various elements is necessary and highly recommended for daily life. Minor elements such as Ca, Fe, K, Mg, and Na as well as trace elements such as Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer in 12 different species of vegetables from Saudi Arabia (the Al-Taif district). These vegetables were cucumber, vegetable marrow, tomato, potato, green pepper, eggplant, carrots, parsley, lettuce, spinach, salq, onion, leek, watercress, and cabbage. The results reveal that the different element concentrations of each vegetable depend upon the selective uptake of the elements by the plant. Salq and watercress exhibited higher element concentrations than the other vegetables. Cluster analysis, principle component analysis, and transfer factor analysis of elements from soil to plant were applied to the elements database and produced good interpretations of the data. The element concentrations of these vegetables were within safety baseline levels for human consumption.

Biological Availability↗

PubMed2001

Selection and characterization of mixed starter cultures for lactic acid fermentation of carrot, cabbage, beet and onion vegetable mixtures.

An evaluation of various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for the fermentation of cabbage, carrot and beet-based vegetable products was carried out. As part of a screening process, the growth of 15 cultures in a vegetable juice medium (VJM) was characterized by automated spectrophotometry. Acidification patterns as well as viability during storage of the LAB were also established. There were greater differences between the pure cultures than the mixed ones with respect to growth in VJM and viability during storage. Reductions in viable cell counts during storage of the fermented VJM occurred more rapidly with a Leuconostoc strain than for pediococci or lactobacilli. Inoculation of vegetables was carried out with cultures of Lactobacillus plantarum NK-312, Pediococcus acidilactici AFERM 772 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides BLAC which were rehydrated in a brine. This rehydration procedure was not detrimental to viability. During fermentation of a carrot/cabbage vegetable mix, sugar metabolism was characterized by the assimilation of both glucose and fructose, but sugars remained in the fermented vegetables when acidification stopped. The pH in the LAB-inoculated vegetables after 72 h at 20 degrees C was significantly lower (by 0.2 units) than the uninoculated control. Inoculation with LAB designed for silage fermentation resulted in the inhibition of acetic acid production, and reduced the production of ethanol during fermentation. The selection process on VJM enabled the preparation of a mixed culture that was more rapid than the silage inoculants in acidifying the medium and was more effective in reducing the production of gas during the fermentation and storage of the fermented vegetables.

Colony Count, Microbial↗

PubMed2003

Increasing children's acceptance of vegetables; a randomized trial of parent-led exposure.

Despite considerable epidemiological evidence of the health benefits of a diet high in fruit and vegetables, consumption in pre-school children remains well below recommended levels. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an exposure-based intervention, carried out by parents in the home, in increasing children's liking for a previously disliked vegetable. 156 parents of 2-6 year old children were randomly assigned to Exposure, Information or Control groups after a pre-intervention taste test at which a 'target' vegetable was selected. Parents in the Exposure group gave their child a taste of this vegetable daily for 14 days, parents in the Information group were given nutritional advice and a leaflet, and parents in the Control group received no further intervention. All participants took part in a post-intervention taste test. Greater increases in liking, ranking and consumption of the 'target' vegetable from pre- to post-intervention occurred in the Exposure group than in either of the other two groups. Only the Exposure group showed significant increases across all three outcomes. It can be concluded that a parent-led, exposure-based intervention involving daily tasting of a vegetable holds promise for improving children's acceptance of vegetables. These findings suggest a parental advice strategy which could be disseminated directly to parents or by health professionals.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Fruit and vegetable consumption in relation to risk factors for cancer: a report from the Malmö Diet and Cancer Study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between the consumption of fruit and vegetables and other markers of cancer risk. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey within the population-based prospective Malmö Diet and Cancer (MDC) Study. Information on food habits was collected through the modified diet history method designed and validated for the MDC Study. Data on smoking and alcohol habits, leisure time physical activity, birth country, education, socioeconomic status and cohabitation status were collected through a questionnaire. SETTING: Malmö, the third largest city in Sweden. SUBJECTS: All subjects who entered the MDC Study during winter 1991 to summer 1994 (men and women living in Malmö, aged between 46 and 68 years), with a total of 15 173. RESULTS: Women consumed more fruit and vegetables than men. Low consumption of both fruits and vegetables was associated with unfavourable nutrient profiles: higher percentage of energy from fat and lower intakes of antioxidant nutrients and dietary fibre. Low consumption was also associated with smoking, low leisure time physical activity, low education and being born in Sweden. High age was associated with low vegetable consumption in both genders. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that several established risk markers and risk factors of cancer may be independently associated with low fruit and vegetable consumption. The findings suggest that the adverse effects of factors such as smoking, low physical activity and a high-fat diet could partly be explained by low consumption of fruit or vegetables. The implied health benefits of a low or moderate alcohol consumption may be similarly confounded by high consumption of fruit or vegetables.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Association between consumption of cruciferous vegetables and condiments and excretion in urine of isothiocyanate mercapturic acids.

A high intake of cruciferous vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This protective effect has been linked to isothiocyanates, enzymatic hydrolysis products of glucosinolates. In this study, the metabolic fate of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates after ingestion of 19 different cruciferous vegetables was studied in three male subjects. After the consumption of 13 cruciferous vegetables (glucosinolate content, 0.01-0.94 mmol/kg) and six condiments (isothiocyanate content, 0.06-49.3 mmol/kg), eight different isothiocyanate mercapturic acids were determined in urine samples. Excretion levels after the consumption of raw vegetables and condiments were higher (bioavailability, 8.2-113%) as compared to cooked vegetables (bioavailability, 1.8-43%), but the excretion rate was similar (t1/2=2.1-3.9 h). Isothiocyanates in urine remain longer at a nonzero level after the consumption of glucosinolates from cooked vegetables, as compared to raw vegetables and condiments, and maximal levels in urine were reached about 4 h later. Isothiocyanate mercapturic acids can be used as a biomarker to reflect the active dose of isothiocyanates absorbed.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed1998

Mineral composition of non-conventional leafy vegetables.

Six non-conventional leafy vegetables consumed largely by the rural populace of Nigeria were analyzed for mineral composition. Mineral contents appeared to be dependent on the type of vegetables. Amaranthus spinosus and Adansonia digitata leaves contained the highest level of iron (38.4 mg/100 g and 30.6 mg/100 g dw, respectively). These values are low compared to those for common Nigerian vegetables but higher than those for other food sources. All the vegetables contained high levels of calcium compared to common vegetables, thus they could be a rich source of this mineral. Microelement content of the leaves varied appreciably. Zinc content was highest in Moringa oleifera, Adansonia digitata and Cassia tora leaves (25.5 mg/100 g, 22.4 mg/100 g and 20.9 mg/100 g dw, respectively) while the manganese content was comparatively higher in Colocasia esculenta. The concentrations of the mineral elements in the vegetables per serving portion are presented and these values indicate that the local vegetables could be valuable and important contributors in the diets of the rural and urban people of Nigeria. The mean daily intake of P, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu and Zn were lower than their recommended dietary allowances (RDAs). However, the manganese daily intake was found not to differ significantly (p = 0.05) from the RDA value.

Calcium↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Changes of soil microbiological properties caused by land use changing from rice-wheat rotation to vegetable cultivation.

A survey was done recently in Jiaxing city of Zhejiang Province in the Yangtze River Delta to compare the differences of soil microbiological properties among paddy soils with different land use including continuous open-field vegetable cultivation (OFVC), plastic-greenhouse vegetable cultivation (PGVC) and traditional rice-wheat rotation (RWR). The soil types included are percolating, permeable and waterlogged paddy soils. The results indicate that the microbial flora was markedly changed as the land use changed for all the three soil types. In continuous vegetable cultivation soils, especially in PGVC soils, the bacteria amounts decreased dramatically, but the fungal and actinomyce amounts increased as compared with RWR soils. The dehydrogenase activities decreased significantly in vegetable soils, especially in PGVC soils as compared with RWR soils. The microbial biomass C and the total phospholipid contents (TPL) in vegetable cultivation soil greatly decreased as compared with RWR soils. Biolog analysis indicated that the kinds of carbon sources that could be metabolized by native microbes in PGVC soils greatly decreased as compared with OFVC soils and RWR soils, revealing that microbial diversity had decreased since land use change. The activities of some soil enzymes including urease, invertase and phosphase were all lower in OFVC soils than those in RWR soils, and those in PGVC soils were the lowest. The degradation of microbiological activities in continuous vegetable cultivation soils, especially in PGVC soils, as compared with RWR soils might have been caused by soil acidification and accumulation of salts due to overuse of both organic and inorganic fertilizers in vegetable cultivation.

Agriculture↗

PubMed2001

Guidelines for the intake of vegetables and fruit: the Mediterranean approach.

Various studies have demonstrated that the nutrient and non-nutrient substances present in vegetables and fruit (V&F) are most likely to be responsible for the beneficial effect of the increased V&F consumption. Urged by scientific evidence, current dietary guidelines strongly recommend the consumption of V&F in substantial amounts. In a recent paper (Brit. J. Nutr. 2000; 84, 549-556) V&F availability in 10 European countries was compared with the WHO recommendations (minimum combined V&F intake of about 400 g/day/person), as well as with guidelines of a minimum daily intake of three portions of vegetables (approx. 250 g/person) and two portions of fruit (approx. 150 g/person). All countries, excluding Greece, had a vegetable intake below the recommended minimum. Moreover, in all countries, the percentages of low vegetable consumers were significantly higher than those of low fruit consumers, suggesting that there is considerable room for improvement in the intake of vegetables, an important source of antioxidants. Wild edible greens are among the vegetables commonly consumed in Greece. These greens have a high flavonoid content, which in several cases substantially exceeds the respective values in foods and beverages, such as onions, black tea and red wine (Food Chemistry 2000; 70, 319-323). The high flavonoid content of edible wild greens requires consideration of their role in contemporary diet, as a possible mean for increasing vegetable consumption.

Energy Intake↗

PubMed2001

Fruit and vegetable intake and population glycosylated haemoglobin levels: the EPIC-Norfolk Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether self-reported frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with HbA(1C) levels in individuals not known to have diabetes, and what dietary and lifestyle factors might explain this association. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The EPIC-Norfolk Study, a population-based cohort study of diet and chronic disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 2678 men and 3318 women (45-74 y) not known to have diabetes reported weekly consumption of fruit, green leafy vegetables and other vegetables. RESULTS: Among men, 274 (10.2%) reported seldom or never eating fruit and 127 (4.7%) seldom or never eating green leafy vegetables. Corresponding numbers in women were 157 (4.7%) and 92 (2.8%), respectively. Participants who reported never or seldom having both fruit and green leafy vegetables had higher mean (s.d.) HbA(1C) measurements (5.43% (0.71)) than those who reported more frequent consumption (5.34% (0.67); P=0.046). Differences by category of fruit or green leafy vegetable consumption were not substantially changed after adjustment for saturated fat, dietary fibre and plasma vitamin C. CONCLUSION: These findings support the hypothesis that high intake of fruit and green leafy vegetables may influence glucose metabolism independent of dietary fibre or vitamin C alone and that increased consumption may contribute to the prevention of diabetes.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Effects of a peer modelling and rewards-based intervention to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in children.

OBJECTIVE: To measure children's consumption of, and liking for, fruit and vegetables and how these are altered by a peer modelling and rewards-based intervention. DESIGN: In this initial evaluation of the programme, children's consumption of fruit and vegetables were compared within and across baseline and intervention phases. SETTING: Three primary schools in England and Wales. SUBJECTS: In total, 402 children, aged from 4 to 11 y. INTERVENTION: Over 16 days, children watched six video adventures featuring heroic peers (the Food Dudes) who enjoy eating fruit and vegetables, and received small rewards for eating these foods themselves. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fruit and vegetable consumption was measured (i) in school at lunchtime and snacktime using a five-point observation scale, with inter-rated reliability and weighed validation tests; and (ii) at home using parental recall. A questionnaire measured children's liking for fruit and vegetables before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Consumption during the intervention was significantly higher than during baseline at lunchtime and at snacktime (P<0.001 in all instances). Consumption outside school was significantly higher during the intervention on weekdays (P<0.05) but not weekend days. Following the intervention, children's liking for fruit and vegetables also showed a significant increase (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The peer modelling and rewards-based intervention was shown to be effective in bringing about substantial increases in children's consumption of, and expressed liking for, fruit and vegetables. SPONSORSHIP: : Horticultural Development Council, Fresh Produce Consortium, ASDA, Co-operative Group, Safeway, Sainsbury, Somerfield, Tesco and Birds Eye Wall's.

Child↗

PubMed2005

Plasma carotenoids as biomarkers of intake of fruits and vegetables: ecological-level correlations in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the ability of a single 24-h dietary recall (24HDR) and food questionnaires (FQ) to predict plasma carotenoid levels at the ecological level by assessing the relationship between mean plasma carotenoid levels and mean intake of fruit and vegetables measured by 24HDR and FQ across 16 European regions. DESIGN: A random subsample of 3089 subjects was included, stratified by age and gender. They provided blood samples and dietary information between 1992 and 2000 as part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition. RESULTS: Using Spearman's correlation coefficients, the correlations between mean regional 24HDR fruit and vegetable variables and corresponding mean plasma carotenoid levels were generally higher than the correlations using FQ means. The highest correlation was between the 24HDR citrus fruit variable and beta-cryptoxanthin (r = 0.90). For 24HDR, total fruits and vegetables were highly correlated with lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-cryptoxanthin (r = 0.83-0.87), while vegetables were more closely related with lutein (r = 0.69) and zeaxanthin (r = 0.68), and fruits correlated with zeaxanthin (r = 0.87) and beta-cryptoxanthin (r = 0.84). Root vegetables (r = 0.81) and total carrots (r = 0.71) were well correlated with alpha-carotene. In the multivariate models adjusting for age, body mass index, and season, and using observations of means stratified by sex and region, the association was generally higher for 24HDR compared to FQ. CONCLUSION: Mean regional intakes of fruits and vegetables in several European countries were closely correlated with corresponding mean plasma levels of individual carotenoids. Fruits and vegetables measured by 24HDR were generally better able to predict plasma carotenoids at the ecological level.

Antioxidants↗