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PubMed2004

Habitual consumption of fruits and vegetables: associations with human rectal glutathione S-transferase.

The glutathione (GSH)/glutathione S-transferase (GST) system is an important detoxification system in the gastrointestinal tract. A high activity of this system may benefit cancer prevention. The aim of the study was to assess whether habitual consumption of fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits and brassica and allium vegetables, is positively associated with parameters reflecting the activity of the GSH/GST enzyme system in human rectal mucosa. GST enzyme activity, GST isoenzyme levels of GST-alpha (A1-1, A1-2 and A2-2), -mu (M1-1) and -pi (P1-1), and GSH levels were measured in rectal biopsies from 94 subjects. Diet, lifestyle, GSTM1 and GSTT1 null polymorphisms were assessed. Mean GST enzyme activity was 237 nmol/min/mg protein (SD = 79). Consumption of citrus fruits was positively associated with GST enzyme activity [difference between high and low consumption: 28.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 9.3-48.6) nmol/min/mg protein], but was not associated with the other parameters. A positive association with brassica vegetables was found among carriers of the GSTM1-plus genotype [difference between high and low consumption: 22.6 (95% CI = 0.2-45.0) nmol/min/mg protein], but not among GSTM1-null individuals (-25.8 nmol/min/mg protein, 95% CI = -63.3-11.8). This is in line with a positive association between consumption of brassica vegetables and GSTM isoenzyme level [difference between high and low consumption: 67.5%, 95% CI = (6.8-162.7)]. Consumption of allium vegetables was not associated with GST enzyme activity, but negatively with GSTP1-1 levels [difference between high and low consumption: -23.3%, 95% CI = (-35.5; -8.6)]. Associations were similar among those with the GSTT1-plus and GSTT1-null genotype. In conclusion, variations in habitual consumption of fruits, particularly citrus fruits, and of vegetables, in particular brassica vegetables, among those with the GSTM1-plus genotype, may contribute to variations in human rectal GST enzyme activity.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2004

Altered vegetable intake affects pivotal carcinogenesis pathways in colon mucosa from adenoma patients and controls.

The evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies that vegetables reduce the risk of colorectal cancer is convincing. However, the involved genes and genetic pathways are not clear. The aim of this study was to identify genes that are modulated in vivo in colorectal mucosa by vegetables, and to investigate whether colon adenoma patients respond differently compared with healthy controls. Twenty female adenoma patients and eight healthy controls were randomly split into two groups of ten and four persons, respectively, receiving either a 50% decreased (=75 g/day) or doubled (=300 g/day) intake of vegetables for 2 weeks. In order to assess the effects on gene expression at the target level, colorectal biopsies were collected before and after the intervention. Total RNA was isolated from the biopsies to measure gene expression of 597 genes relevant for responses to xenobiotics by microarray technology, followed by confidence analyses to identify differentially expressed genes. Mainly genes related to cell cycle control and genes for oxidoreductase activities were over-represented in the list of modulated genes. Twenty genes were modulated, which are known to be related to (colon)carcinogenesis. Seven genes were similarly modulated in patients and controls, for example fos proto-oncogene and ornithine decarboxylase. Thirteen genes were modulated differently in patients compared with controls, including cyclooxygenase-2 and human mdm2-A in patients and cytochrome P45027B1, -2C19, -2D6, -2C9 and -3A4 in controls. Almost all the effects on modulating the expression of genes by altering vegetable intake can be mechanistically linked to cellular processes that explain either prevention of colorectal cancer risk by high vegetable intake or increased colorectal cancer risk by low vegetable intake. Furthermore, it seems that vegetables in patients affect genes involved in the late stage of colorectal cancer, whereas in controls genes involved in the initiation phase are modulated.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2002

Usefulness of a short food frequency questionnaire for screening of low intake of fruit and vegetable and for intake of fat.

BACKGROUND: Simple screening tools to identify intake of fruit, vegetables and fat are necessary to design effective public health intervention strategies in order to increase intake of fruit and vegetable and to reduce fat intake. METHODS: 108 men recorded their food intake for 14 days and filled in a 27-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) 1.5-2 months later. Estimates of fruit, vegetables and fat intake from the FFQ were compared with those from the weighed records. RESULTS: Mean intake of vegetables and fruit estimated from the diet records increased with increasing categories for frequency of intake assessed by the FFQ. Spearman correlation coefficient between frequency of intake of vegetables and fruit from the FFQ and amount of these food items estimated from the weighed records was 0.46 and 0.66, respectively. The ability of the FFQ to predict those having inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables based on weighed record data, was more than 90%. Almost 95% who reported use of fat spreads by the FFQ also reported this by the records. The correlation coefficient between the amount of fat used on bread from the two methods was 0.79. The correlation between fat intake estimated from both methods was 0.36 and for saturated fat intake the correlation was 0.38. CONCLUSION: The FFQ could be used to screen for low consumers of fruit, vegetable and fat spread in intervention programmes. However, the ability of the FFQ to identify persons with high (or low) intake of fat and saturated fat was not good.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables daily: understanding the complexities.

The 2000 edition of Nutrition and Your Health: Dietary Guidelines for Americans is the first to include a recommendation aimed specifically at fruits and vegetables, apart from grains. This paper discusses these changes in the Dietary Guidelines, summarizes the methods of assessment pertaining to fruit and vegetable intakes and their related factors, and reviews the data available on current levels and trends over time. Recent methodological advances in the measurement of both the aggregate U.S. food supply and foods consumed by individuals have allowed for better estimates with which recommendations can be compared. The data on individual intakes suggest the following: Americans are consuming fruits and vegetables at a level near the minimum recommendations; to be in concordance with energy-based recommendations, they would have to consume approximately 2 more servings per day; and dark green and deep yellow vegetables are accounting for a disproportionately small share of the total. Fruit and vegetable consumption appears to be rising, but only slightly, and this increase might be only an artifact of shifts in the population demographics. A number of studies suggest that low income households in poor central cities and sparsely populated rural areas often have less access to food stores and face higher prices for food, including fruits and vegetables, compared with other households. At the aggregate level, supplying enough fruits and vegetables to meet dietary recommendations for all U.S. consumers would require adjustments in U.S. agricultural production, trade, marketing practices and prices of these commodities.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2004

Plasma C-reactive protein and homocysteine concentrations are related to frequent fruit and vegetable intake in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white elders.

Elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and plasma total homocysteine (Hcy) were recently identified as risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, few studies have related fruit and vegetable consumption to these markers of inflammation and B vitamin deficiency, particularly in the Hispanic population. We examined the relation of fruit and vegetable intake with plasma CRP and Hcy concentrations in a cross-sectional study. Subjects were 445 Hispanic elders and 154 neighborhood-based non-Hispanic white elders living in Massachusetts. Diet was assessed with a FFQ designed for this population. There were significant inverse dose-response associations between fruit and vegetable intake and plasma CRP (P for trend = 0.010) and Hcy (P for trend = 0.033) concentrations, after adjustment for potential confounders. The prevalence of high plasma CRP (> 10 mg/L), and high Hcy (>10.4 micromol/L for women and >11.4 micromol/L for men), was significantly greater among subjects in the lowest quartile of fruit and vegetable consumption relative to those in the highest quartile, 17.9 vs. 9.1% and 58.7 vs. 44.4%, respectively. With each additional serving of fruit and vegetable intake, adjusted odd ratios for high plasma CRP and Hcy were 0.79 (95% CI: 0.65 to 0.97) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.72 to 0.96), respectively. Greater frequency of fruit and vegetable intake was associated with significantly lower plasma CRP and Hcy concentrations. Because both of these metabolites are known risk factors for CVD, these findings contribute to the evidence that a higher intake of fruit and vegetables may reduce the risk of CVD.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

Fruit and vegetable intakes and prostate cancer risk.

BACKGROUND: There is extensive and consistent evidence that high fruit and vegetable intakes are associated with decreased risks of many cancers, but results for prostate cancer risk have been inconsistent. We studied the associations of fruit and vegetable intakes with prostate cancer risk in a population-based, case-control study of men under 65 years of age. METHODS: Case participants were 628 men from King County (Seattle area), WA, who were newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. Control participants were 602 men recruited from the same underlying population and frequency matched to case participants by age. Self-administered food-frequency questionnaires were used to assess diet over the 3- to 5-year period before diagnosis or recruitment. Daily nutrient intakes were calculated by use of a nutrient database with recently updated analytic values for carotenoids. Odds ratios for prostate cancer risk associated with foods and nutrients were calculated by use of unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: No associations were found between fruit intake and prostate cancer risk. The adjusted odds ratio (ORs) for the comparison of 28 or more servings of vegetables per week with fewer than 14 servings per week was 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.45-0.94), with a two-sided P for trend =.01. For cruciferous vegetable consumption, adjusted for covariates and total vegetable intake, the OR for comparison of three or more servings per week with less than one serving per week was 0.59 (95% CI = 0.39-0.90), with a two-sided P for trend =.02. The OR for daily intake of 2000 microg or more lutein plus zeaxanthin compared with an intake of less than 800 microg was 0.68 (95% CI = 0.45-1.00). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that high consumption of vegetables, particularly cruciferous vegetables, is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Prospective study of fruit and vegetable consumption and incidence of colon and rectal cancers.

BACKGROUND: Frequent consumption of fruit and vegetables has been associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer in many observational studies. METHODS: We prospectively investigated the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and the incidence of colon and rectal cancers in two large cohorts: the Nurses' Health Study (88 764 women) and the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study (47 325 men). Diet was assessed and cumulatively updated in 1980, 1984, 1986, and 1990 among women and in 1986 and 1990 among men. The incidence of cancer of the colon and rectum was ascertained up to June or January of 1996, respectively. Relative risk (RR) estimates were calculated with the use of pooled logistic regression models accounting for various potential confounders. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: With a follow-up including 1 743 645 person-years and 937 cases of colon cancer, we found little association of colon cancer incidence with fruit and vegetable consumption. For women and men combined, a difference in fruit and vegetable consumption of one additional serving per day was associated with a covariate-adjusted RR of 1.02 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.98-1.05). A difference in vegetable consumption of one additional serving per day was associated with an RR of 1.03 (95% CI = 0.97-1.09). Similar results were obtained for women and men considered separately. A difference in fruit consumption of one additional serving per day was associated with a covariate-adjusted RR for colon cancer of 0.96 (95% CI = 0.89-1.03) among women and 1. 08 (95% CI = 1.00-1.16) among men. For rectal cancer (total, 244 cases), a difference in fruit and vegetable consumption of one additional serving per day was associated with an RR of 1.02 (95% CI = 0.95-1.09) in men and women combined. None of these associations was modified by vitamin supplement use or smoking habits. CONCLUSIONS: Although fruits and vegetables may confer protection against some chronic diseases, their frequent consumption does not appear to confer protection from colon or rectal cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Prospective study of fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of lung cancer among men and women.

BACKGROUND: Diets high in fruits and vegetables have been shown to be associated with a lower risk of lung cancer. beta-Carotene was hypothesized to be largely responsible for the apparent protective effect, but this hypothesis was not supported by clinical trials. METHODS: We examined the association between lung cancer risk and fruit and vegetable consumption in 77 283 women in the Nurses' Health Study and 47 778 men in the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study. Diet was assessed with the use of a food-frequency questionnaire that included 15 fruits and 23 vegetables. We used logistic regression models to estimate relative risks (RRs) of lung cancer within each cohort. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: We documented 519 lung cancer cases among the women and 274 among the men. Total fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with a modestly lower risk of lung cancer among the women but not among the men. The RR for the highest versus lowest quintile of intake was 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.59-1.06) among the women and 1.12 (95% CI = 0.74-1.69) among the men after adjustment for smoking status, quantity of cigarettes smoked per day, time since quitting smoking, and age at initiation of smoking. However, total fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with a lower risk of lung cancer among never smokers in the combined cohorts, although the reduction was not statistically significant (RR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.35-1.12 in the highest tertile). CONCLUSION: Higher fruit and vegetable intakes were associated with lower risks of lung cancer in women but not in men. It is possible that the inverse association among the women remained confounded by unmeasured smoking characteristics, although fruits and vegetables were protective in both men and women who never smoked.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of major chronic disease.

BACKGROUND: Studies of fruit and vegetable consumption in relation to overall health are limited. We evaluated the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and the incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer and of deaths from other causes in two prospective cohorts. METHODS: A total of 71 910 female participants in the Nurses' Health study and 37,725 male participants in the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study who were free of major chronic disease completed baseline semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaires in 1984 and 1986, respectively. Dietary information was updated in 1986, 1990, and 1994 for women and in 1990 and 1994 for men. Participants were followed up for incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer, or death through May 1998 (women) and January 1998 (men). Multivariable-adjusted relative risks were calculated with Cox proportional hazards analysis. RESULTS: We ascertained 9329 events (1964 cardiovascular, 6584 cancer, and 781 other deaths) in women and 4957 events (1670 cardiovascular diseases, 2500 cancers, and 787 other deaths) in men during follow-up. For men and women combined, participants in the highest quintile of total fruit and vegetable intake had a relative risk for major chronic disease of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89 to 1.01) times that of those in the lowest. Total fruit and vegetable intake was inversely associated with risk of cardiovascular disease but not with overall cancer incidence, with relative risk for an increment of five servings daily of 0.88 (95% CI = 0.81 to 0.95) for cardiovascular disease and 1.00 (95% CI = 0.95 to 1.05) for cancer. Of the food groups analyzed, green leafy vegetable intake showed the strongest inverse association with major chronic disease and cardiovascular disease. For an increment of one serving per day of green leafy vegetables, relative risks were 0.95 (95% CI = 0.92 to 0.99) for major chronic disease and 0.89 (95% CI = 0.83 to 0.96) for cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Increased fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with a modest although not statistically significant reduction in the development of major chronic disease. The benefits appeared to be primarily for cardiovascular disease and not for cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

A prospective cohort study on vegetable and fruit consumption and stomach cancer risk in The Netherlands.

The association between vegetable and fruit consumption and stomach cancer risk was investigated in the Netherlands Cohort Study among 120,852 men and women aged 55-69 years at the start in September 1986. Analyses were based on 282 incident stomach cancer cases after 6.3 years of follow-up. Age- and sex-adjusted rate ratios of stomach cancer in increasing quintiles of combined vegetable and fruit consumption were 1.00, 0.70, 0.65, 0.76, and 0.64 (p trend = 0.04). Multivariate analysis resulted in rate ratios that were somewhat closer to one (p trend = 0.14). Furthermore, inverse associations for total vegetables, pulses, raw leafy vegetables, total fruit, citrus fruit, and apples and pears that were observed in crude analyses became weaker or disappeared in multivariate analyses. Total vegetable, but not fruit, consumption was significantly lower in cases diagnosed in the first follow-up year. In analyses limited to first year cases (resembling a case-control study), rate ratios for increasing tertiles of total vegetable consumption were 1.00, 0.17, and 0.18 (p trend = 0.0001), which may indicate the presence of information bias in case-control studies. This prospective study suggests that vegetable and fruit consumption was not clearly associated with stomach cancer risk in the Dutch population. The findings of this study are comparable with findings of other cohort studies, but they do not support the findings of case-control studies.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

The association between fruit and vegetable intake and chronic disease risk factors.

Understanding the associations between fruit and vegetable intake and other health behaviors is important for properly interpreting the rapidly growing number of studies that link low intakes of fruits and vegetables to the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. To examine the association between fruit and vegetable intake and behavioral risk factors for chronic diseases, we analyzed data from a population-based behavioral risk factor survey. Data were collected in 1990 from 21,892 adults in 16 states by a random-digit-dial telephone survey. Respondents answered questions about behaviors related to chronic disease risk, including their frequency of intake of fruits and vegetables, using a six-item questionnaire. Consumption of fruits and vegetables was lowest among those who also reported that they were sedentary, heavy smokers, heavy drinkers, or had never had their blood cholesterol checked. Because fruit and vegetable intake covaries with several other chronic disease risk factors, it is important to account for possible confounding between fruit and vegetable intake and other behaviors in etiologic studies of the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Protective effects of raw vegetables and fruit against lung cancer among smokers and ex-smokers: a case-control study in the Tokai area of Japan.

In a hospital-based case control study, the protecting effects of fruit, raw and green vegetables against lung cancer risk among male smokers were studied in 282 cases and the same number of controls. The current smokers showed a 6.61-fold increased risk of lung cancer. The odds ratio (OR) declined markedly with starting age of smoking habit and increased markedly with number of cigarettes smoked per day. The ex-smokers showed a 3.56-fold increased risk of lung cancer. The ORs gradually decreased with years passed since cessation of smoking. In the single factor analysis, significant protective effects of fruit, raw vegetables, green vegetables, lettuce and cabbage against lung cancer were found. The risk for all lung cancer decreased to 0.45 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.30-0.67), 0.64 (95% CI 0.43-0.97) and 0.44 (95% CI 0.26-0.73) with increment of intake frequency of fruit, raw and green vegetables respectively. The OR for lung cancer decreased to 0.41 (95% CI 0.24-0.72) and 0.56 (95% CI 0.32-0.99) with increasing intake frequency of fruit and raw vegetables among current smoking males. Lettuce and cabbage showed protective effects against lung cancer, and the OR for risk of lung cancer decreased to one-half among the high intake frequency group. The risk of lung cancer among current smokers declined markedly with increasing intake of lettuce and cabbage. A similar effect was observed among ex-smokers and non-smokers, but there was no statistical significance. In the multivariate analysis, fruit and raw vegetables showed the strongest protective effects against lung cancer among current smokers (P = 0.01). Among ex-smokers, the protective effect of fruit is also statistically significant (P = 0.03). These results suggest that fruit and raw vegetables may play an important role in protecting smokers from lung cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Increasing daily fruit and vegetable consumption: what changes do cardiac patients make?

BACKGROUND: Interventions targeting fruit and vegetable consumption report significant increases in consumption but do not detail how increases are achieved. This prospective study explored (i) the changes in daily fruit and daily vegetable consumption of cardiac patients participating in an intervention study and (ii) how participants made these changes. METHODS: A total of 120 cardiac patients were asked to increase their daily fruit and vegetable consumption by two portions and to maintain this over 3 months. They were telephoned at 7-, 28- and 90-day follow-up to record daily consumption using a dietary questionnaire; 94 participants completed all parts of the study. RESULTS: Mean reported daily fruit and daily vegetable consumption increased by 1.07 (SD = 1.26) and 0.34 (SD = 0.96) portions, respectively, over 3 months. These increases were statistically significant (P < 0.001) and greatest for participants who reported eating low levels of fruit and vegetables at recruitment. Eating fresh fruit as a snack and at mealtimes were preferred choices for participants. CONCLUSIONS: Providing information and telephone follow-up could be used by busy healthcare professionals instead of face-to-face contact. Interventions to increase total fruit and vegetable consumption could usefully focus on eating fruit. Interventions to increase vegetable consumption need further investigation.

Female↗

PubMed2005

The clinical relevance of sensitization to pollen-related fruits and vegetables in unselected pollen-sensitized adults.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have described cross-reactivity between fresh fruits, vegetables and pollen. However, no data demonstrates the clinical relevance of sensitization to pollen-related fruits and vegetables in unselected pollen-sensitized adults with and without symptoms in the pollen season. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to estimate the clinical relevance of sensitization to pollen-related fruits and vegetables in unselected pollen-sensitized adults and to examine the diagnostic value of skin-prick test (SPT), histamine release and specific IgE compared with the outcome of oral challenge. METHODS: In total, 936 unselected adults (female : male 479 : 457, median age 33.7 years) were examined for pollen sensitization and clinical cross-reactivity with pollen-related fruits and vegetables by questionnaire, SPT, histamine release, specific IgE and oral challenge. RESULTS: The prevalence of pollen sensitization was 23.8% (n = 223). The probability of a clinical reaction to pollen-related foods in the respective pollen-sensitized groups was: 24% (birch), 4% (grass), 10% (mugwort), 35% (birch + grass), 8% (grass + mugwort) and 52% (birch + grass + mugwort). The odds ratio of a clinical reaction to pollen-related fruits and vegetables in symptomatic pollen-sensitized adults was as high as four times (birch + grass) the odds ratio of a clinical reaction in asymptomatic pollen-sensitized adults. CONCLUSION: This study not only demonstrates a high prevalence of clinical reactions to fruits and vegetables in pollen-sensitized adults, but also a discrepancy between the prevalence of sensitization to fruits and vegetables and the clinical relevance in different pollen-sensitized groups with symptoms in the pollen season as a significant factor.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Intakes of fruits, vegetables, vitamins A, C, and E, and carotenoids and risk of renal cell cancer.

BACKGROUND: Fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants have been proposed to reduce the risk of renal cell cancer. However, few prospective studies have examined the intakes of fruits, vegetables, and antioxidant vitamins in relation to the risk of renal cell cancer. METHODS: We prospectively examined the associations between the intakes of fruits, vegetables, vitamins A, C, and E, and carotenoids and risk of renal cell cancer in women and men. We followed 88,759 women in the Nurses' Health Study from 1980 to 2000, and 47,828 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study from 1986 to 2000. We assessed dietary intake every 2 to 4 years using a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate study-specific multivariate relative risks (RR), which were pooled using a random effects model. RESULTS: A total of 248 (132 women and 116 men) incident renal cell cancer cases were ascertained during 2,316,525 person-years of follow-up. The consumption of fruits and vegetables was associated with a decreased risk of renal cell cancer in men (multivariate RR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.25-0.81, for >or=6 servings of fruit and vegetable intake/d versus <3 servings/d; P test for trend = 0.02), but not in women (multivariate RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.66-2.07, for the same contrast; P test for trend = 0.25; P test for between-studies heterogeneity = 0.02). Intakes of vitamins A and C from food and carotenoids were inversely associated with the risk of renal cell cancer in men only, but we cannot exclude the possibility that this was due to other factors in fruit and vegetables. No clear association was observed for vitamin E in women or men. CONCLUSIONS: Fruit and vegetable consumption may reduce the risk of renal cell cancer in men.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Blood pressure and vitamin C and fruit and vegetable intake.

BACKGROUND: A high vitamin C intake was recently associated with lower blood pressure levels. We examined this association and compared it with that between blood pressure and fruit and vegetable intake among German adults. METHODS: Complete data were available for 1,628 women and 1,340 men, aged 18-79 years, who participated in the German Nutrition Survey, a subsample of the National Health Survey 1998. The participants completed a health and lifestyle questionnaire and underwent a medical examination and a comprehensive dietary interview. Multiple regression models were used to analyze the association between blood pressure and vitamin C and fruit and vegetable intakes. The associations were adjusted for age and body mass index and in addition for smoking among women and alcohol intake and sport activity among men. RESULTS: Systolic blood pressure showed a significant inverse association with fruit and vegetable but not with vitamin C intake among women. If information about vitamin C and fruit and vegetable intakes was considered simultaneously, a high fruit and vegetable intake was stronger associated with lower systolic blood pressure levels as compared with a high vitamin C intake among women. Among men, we did not observe significant associations between blood pressure and vitamin C and fruit and vegetable intakes. CONCLUSION: The total vitamin C intake seems to be less associated with blood pressure levels as compared with the intake of fruit and vegetables among women.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Fruit and vegetable intake in a sample of 11-year-old children in 9 European countries: The Pro Children Cross-sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: An adequate fruit and vegetable intake provides essential nutrients and nutritive compounds and is considered an important part of a healthy lifestyle. No simple instrument has been available for the assessment of fruit and vegetable intake as well as its determinants in school-aged children applicable in different European countries. Within the Pro Children Project, such an instrument has been developed. This paper describes the cross-sectional survey in 11-year-olds in 9 countries. METHODS: The cross-sectional survey used nationally, and in 2 countries regionally, representative samples of schools and classes. The questionnaires, including a precoded 24-hour recall component and a food frequency part, were completed in the classroom. Data were treated using common syntax files for portion sizes and for merging of vegetable types into four subgroups. RESULTS: The results show that the fruit and vegetable intake in amounts and choice were highly diverse in the 9 participating countries. Vegetable intake was in general lower than fruit intake, boys consumed less fruit and vegetables than girls did. The highest total intake according to the 24-hour recall was found in Austria and Portugal, the lowest in Spain and Iceland. CONCLUSION: The fruit and vegetable intake in 11-year-old children was in all countries far from reaching population goals and food-based dietary guidelines on national and international levels.

Child↗

PubMed2003

Vegetable and fruit intake and stroke mortality in the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Life Span Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fruits and vegetables are known for their beneficial effects on chronic diseases. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables on total stroke mortality and its 2 main subtypes in men and women separately. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 40 349 Japanese men and women was initiated in 1980-1981 and followed until 1998. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed at baseline on the basis of the response to a food frequency questionnaire. During the 18-year follow-up period, deaths from stroke were registered. RESULTS: A total of 1926 stroke deaths were identified during the follow-up period. An increasing frequency of intake of green-yellow vegetables and fruit was associated with a reduced risk of death from intracerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction. Daily intake of green-yellow vegetables was associated with a significant 26% reduction in the risk of death from total stroke in men and women compared with an intake of once or less per week. The protective effect associated with daily fruit and vegetable intake was observed for both cerebral infarction and intracerebral hemorrhage mortality but was slightly stronger and clearer for infarction than for hemorrhage, with a 32% reduction in men and a 30% reduction in women. Daily fruit intake was associated with a significant 35% reduction in risk of total stroke in men and a 25% reduction in women and was equally strong for both intracerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Daily consumption of green-yellow vegetables and fruits is associated with a lower risk of total stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and cerebral infarction mortality. The protective effects are similar in both men and women.

Adult↗