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PubMed2003

Effect of a fruit and vegetable subscription in Danish schools.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effect of a school fruit and vegetable subscription on children's intake of fruit and vegetables after 5 weeks of intervention. SETTING: Seven primary schools in Denmark. DESIGN AND METHODS: Intervention schools (n=4) were offered a fruit and vegetable subscription comprising one piece per day. Control schools situated in another municipality were not offered the subscription. Intake of fruit and vegetables was measured at baseline and 5 weeks after the start of the subscription. Two methods were used for dietary assessment: a pre-coded 24-hour recall form including total food intake and a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) including only fruit and vegetables. SUBJECTS: Children aged 6-10 years (n=804 from intervention schools and n=689 from control schools). Response rate in the dietary assessment was 31%. RESULTS: At intervention schools 45% of the children enrolled in the subscription. After 5 weeks of intervention, both subscribers and non-subscribers had increased their intake of fruit by 0.4 (P=0.019) and 0.3 (P=0.008) pieces per school day, respectively, but no change was observed in vegetable intake. Total intake increased only for non-subscribers by 0.4 piece/school day (P=0.008) mainly due to the consistent increase in fruit intake. No change in intake was measured at control schools. Only the 24-hour recall questionnaire was sensitive enough to pick up the changes of the subscription, whereas the FFQ was not. CONCLUSION: Five weeks with the subscription affected both subscribers and non-subscribers to increase intake of fruit. This may indicate that the subscription had an additional effect of stimulating parents of non-subscribers to supply their children with fruit. The results stress the importance of evaluating the effect of this type of programme, and the carefulness needed in designing the evaluation study.

Child↗

PubMed2002

Consumption of vegetables, fruit and other plant foods in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohorts from 10 European countries.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and compare the consumption of the main groups and sub-groups of vegetables and fruits (V&F) in men and women from the centres participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. Dietary intake was assessed by means of a 24-hour dietary recall using computerised interview software and standardised procedures. Crude and adjusted means were computed for the main groups and sub-groups of V&F by centre, separately for men and women. Adjusted means by season, day of the week and age were estimated using weights and covariance analysis. SETTING: Twenty-seven centres in 10 European countries participating in the EPIC project. SUBJECTS: In total, 35 955 subjects (13 031 men and 22 924 women), aged 35-74 years, randomly selected from each EPIC cohort. RESULTS: The centres from southern countries had the highest consumption of V&F, while the lowest intake was seen in The Netherlands and Scandinavia for both genders. These differences were more evident for fruits, particularly citrus. However, slightly different patterns arose for some sub-groups of vegetables, such as root vegetables and cabbage. Adjustment for body mass index, physical activity, smoking habits and education did not substantially modify the mean intakes of vegetables and fruits. CONCLUSIONS: Total vegetable and fruit intake follows a south-north gradient in both genders, whereas for several sub-groups of vegetables a different geographic distribution exists. Differences in mean intake of V&F by centre were not explained by lifestyle factors associated with V&F intake.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Child-feeding strategies of African American women according to stage of change for fruit and vegetable consumption.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between child-feeding strategies and the stage of change for fruit and vegetable consumption of low-income African American women. DESIGN: Mothers were asked to think aloud as they shopped for groceries and prepared a meal for their family. Verbalisations were audio-taped and transcribed. Transcripts were coded. Coded segments were sorted according to stage of change of the women who made the verbalisation. Themes were identified and analysed for differences across the stages of change. Child-feeding strategies and factors influencing provision of fruits and vegetables to children were identified through content analysis procedures. SETTING/SUBJECTS: Seventy women, aged 18 to 45 years, were classified by stage of change (10 to 18 per stage) based on self-reported intakes of fruits and vegetables and intention to increase intake. Women on average had two to three children less than 12 years of age and tended to be single heads of households, with about half having some college or technical training. RESULTS: According to the women's comments, food preferences of children were important considerations for women in all stages regarding their food choice behaviours. Women in the later stages reported using more positive child-feeding strategies to promote the intake of fruit and vegetables, including positive role-modelling and methods related to food purchasing, preparation and meal planning. CONCLUSIONS: Promoting mothers' movement to more advanced stages of change for fruit and vegetable intake may result in the use of more positive child-feeding strategies and therefore contribute to increased fruit and vegetable intake by children.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Who eats four or more servings of fruit and vegetables per day? Multivariate classification tree analysis of data from the 1998 Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition in the Republic of Ireland.

OBJECTIVE: To identify, using the novel application of multivariate classification trees, the socio-economic, sociodemographic and health-related lifestyle behaviour profile of adults who comply with the recommended 4 or more servings per day of fruit and vegetables. DESIGN: Cross-sectional 1998 Survey of Lifestyle, Attitudes and Nutrition. SETTING: Community-dwelling adults aged 18 years and over on the Republic of Ireland electoral register. SUBJECTS: Six thousand five hundred and thirty-nine (response rate 62%) adults responded to a self-administered postal questionnaire, including a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: The most important determining factor of compliance with the fruit and vegetable dietary recommendations was gender. A complex constellation of sociodemographic and socio-economic factors emerged for males whereas the important predictors of 4 or more servings of fruit and vegetable consumption among females were strongly socio-economic in nature. A separate algorithm was run to investigate the importance of health-related lifestyle and other dietary factors on compliance with the fruit and vegetable recommendations. Following an initial split on compliance with dairy recommendations, a combination of non-dietary behaviours showed a consistent pattern of healthier options more likely to lead to compliance with fruit and vegetable recommendations. There did, however, appear to be a compensatory element between the variables, particularly around smoking, suggesting the non-existence of an exclusive lifestyle for health risk. CONCLUSIONS: Material and structural influences matter very much for females in respect to compliance with fruit and vegetable recommendations. For males, while these factors are important they appear to be mediated through other more socially contextual-type factors. Recognition of the role that each of these factors plays in influencing dietary habits of men and women has implications for the manner in which dietary strategies and policies are developed and implemented.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Evaluation of brief dietary questions to estimate vegetable and fruit consumption - using serum carotenoids and red-cell folate.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate responses to self-administered brief questions regarding consumption of vegetables and fruit by comparison with blood levels of serum carotenoids and red-cell folate. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study in which participants reported their usual intake of fruit and vegetables in servings per day, and serum levels of five carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin and lycopene) and red-cell folate were measured. Serum carotenoid levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, and red-cell folate by an automated immunoassay system. SETTINGS AND SUBJECTS: Between October and December 2000, a sample of 1598 adults aged 25 years and over, from six randomly selected urban centres in Queensland, Australia, were examined as part of a national study conducted to determine the prevalence of diabetes and associated cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: Statistically significant (P<0.01) associations with vegetable and fruit intake (categorised into groups: </=1 serving, 2-3 servings and >/=4 servings per day) were observed for alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin and red-cell folate. The mean level of these carotenoids and of red-cell folate increased with increasing frequency of reported servings of vegetables and fruit, both before and after adjusting for potential confounding factors. A significant association with lycopene was observed only for vegetable intake before adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that brief questions may be a simple and valuable tool for monitoring vegetable and fruit intake in this population.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Cruciferous vegetables and cancer prevention.

In recent years, cancer prevention by natural products has received considerable attention. The potential protective role of cruciferous vegetables and active components present in these vegetables, such as isothiocyanates and indole-3-carbinol, has been extensively studied in experimental in vitro and in vivo carcinogenesis models. Results have consistently shown that the chemopreventive agents derived from this class of vegetables of the Cruciferae family influence carcinogenesis during initiation and promotion phases of cancer development. Similarly, reports from epidemiological studies and clinical trials support this notion. However, there is no comprehensive summary of all these aspects of the association between cruciferous vegetables and cancer prevention. We have attempted to summarize experimental carcinogenesis studies as well as clinical trials and studies on the mechanism of action of selective chemopreventive agents isolated and identified within these natural products. Results clearly point toward a positive correlation between cancer prevention of many target organs and consumption of cruciferous vegetable or their active constituents. Yet we are still far from complete understanding of the effects of combinations of chemopreventive phytochemicals present in these cruciferous vegetables and their overall mechanism(s) of action in providing protective effects.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Urinary lignan and isoflavonoid excretion in men and women consuming vegetable and soy diets.

Urinary lignan and isoflavonoid excretion were examined in 11 men and 9 women consuming four nine-day controlled experimental diets: basal (vegetable free), carotenoid vegetable (carrot and spinach), cruciferous vegetable (broccoli and cauliflower), and soy (tofu and textured vegetable protein product). Three-day urine collections (Days 7-9) were analyzed for lignans and isoflavonoids with use of isotope-dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Urinary excretion of the lignans enterodiol and enterolactone was higher during the carotenoid and cruciferous vegetable diets than during the basal diet (p = 0.0001), suggesting that these vegetables may provide a source of mammalian lignan precursors. Urinary excretion of the isoflavonoids equol, O-desmethylangolensin, daidzein, and genistein was higher when subjects consumed soy diets than when they consumed the other test diets (p < 0.02). Gender differences in lignan excretion were observed. Men excreted more enterolactone (p = 0.006) and less enterodiol (p = 0.013) than women, implying a gender difference in colonic bacterial metabolism of lignans. There was no effect of gender on isoflavonoid excretion.

4-Butyrolactone↗

PubMed1997

Modulation of dietary fat-enhanced colorectal carcinogenesis in N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-treated rats by a vegetables-fruit mixture.

The modulation of a vegetables-fruit mixture on N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced colorectal carcinogenesis was studied in rats maintained on a low- or a high-fat diet. For this purpose, 120 rats received a semisynthetic diet without (Groups A and C) or with a vegetables-fruit mixture (19.5% wt/wt, Groups B and D) for 35 weeks. Diets of Group A and B contained 20 (low) energy percent (20e%) fat, whereas diets of Groups C and D contained 40e% (high) fat. Between Weeks 4 and 9 the animals were given weekly intrarectal instillations of 6 mg MNNG/kg body wt. The colorectal adenocarcinoma incidences showed a significant decrease in animals fed high-fat diets with a vegetables-fruit mixture compared with animals fed a high-fat diet alone. Furthermore, without a vegetables-fruit mixture, diets high in fat caused a significant increase in adenocarcinoma incidence compared with diets low in fat. Although not significant, the adenoma incidences tended to be lower in animals fed a vegetables-fruit mixture than in animals maintained on a diet without this mixture. The results demonstrate that a vegetables-fruit mixture has a significant inhibitory potency on the development of colorectal tumors induced by MNNG in rats fed diets high in fat.

Administration, Rectal↗

PubMed1999

Intakes of vitamin C, vegetables and fruits: which schoolchildren are at risk?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine vitamin C intakes among American schoolchildren. We investigated the leading sources of vitamin C in children's diets, the leading vegetables and fruits consumed by children and differences in dietary intake associated with vitamin C consumption. METHODS: Data from 1,350 7- to 12-year-old and 908 13- to 18-year-old schoolchildren were obtained from the 1994-1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII). The children were stratified by age and gender and then split into three vitamin C consumption groups based upon two 24-hour recalls: low (0 to 30.0 mg), marginal (30.1 to 59.9 mg), and desirable (>60.0 mg). Data were analyzed by tabulation and by ANOVA followed by post hoc Scheffe's test. Outcome measures included food groups and energy-adjusted intakes of micro- and macronutrients. RESULTS: Among the 7- to 12-year-olds, 12% of boys and 13% of girls had mean vitamin C intakes that were less than 30 mg/day, and, among 13- to 18-year-olds, 14% of boys and 20% of girls had low vitamin C intakes. In addition to consuming significantly more vitamin C, children with desirable vitamin C intakes also consumed significantly more (p <0.001) energy-adjusted folate and vitamin B6; children with low vitamin C intakes tended to have significantly greater (p <0.001) energy-adjusted intakes of fat and saturated fat. Children with desirable vitamin C intakes consumed significantly more (p <0.006) high-vitamin C fruit juice, low-vitamin C vegetables and whole milk. Children with low vitamin C intakes on average consumed two daily servings of vegetables and fruits, of which less than 1/5 of a serving was citrus, while children with desirable vitamin C intakes consumed an average of one daily serving of citrus. CONCLUSIONS: A considerable number of children drastically under-consumed vitamin C and total vegetables and fruits. Overall, children with desirable vitamin C intakes had healthier diets, including more milk and vegetables, than did their peers with low vitamin C intakes. Health care professionals should continue to promote at least five daily servings of vegetables and fruits and should advise parents that at least one of these should be rich in vitamin C.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Microbiological quality of fresh leafy vegetables, salad components and ready-to-eat salads: an evidence of inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes in tomatoes.

A total of 116 samples of 11 different fresh vegetables from a local market generally consumed in raw form as well as 12 samples of ready-to-eat green salads procured from three grade 1 and 2 restaurants in Mumbai, India were examined for overall microbial quality in terms of bacterial, mold and coliform levels and incidence of pathogens such as Listeria and Yersinia. Standard procedures and media were used for isolation and identification studies. Thoroughly washed samples of 26 leafy vegetables, 12 roots, 62 tomatoes and four samples each of cabbage, capsicum and cucumber showed total bacterial and yeast-mold count in 10(6)-10(7) cfu/gm and 10(2)-10(5) cfu/gm range respectively. On the other hand, higher range of bacterial (10(6)-10(8) cfu/gm) and mold (10(4)-10(7) cfu/gm) count were noticed in ready-to-eat salads from restaurants. The MPN index/gm for coliforms for vegetables from a local market ranged from < 3 to > 1100 whereas for ready-to-eat salads it was 11 to 460. Evidence of higher number of coliforms was observed mostly in green leafy vegetables. All (100%) local vegetables exhibited the incidence of Listeria and Yersinia. On the other hand, ready-to-eat salads showed 20 and 73% presence of Yersinia and Listeria respectively. Higher occurrence of fecal coliforms was (65.6%) found in raw vegetables while they were absent in ready-to-eat salad samples. Non-pathogenic species like Y. intermedia and L. innocua were predominating species in most of the samples. Nevertheless, presence of L. monocytogenes was observed in 7 out of 62 tomatoes, 5 out of 10 coriander leaves, 2 out of 4 spinach samples and one from 4 cabbage samples. Studies conducted to understand the ability of L. monocytogenes 036 and 35152 to grow in tomato in the presence of naturally occurring bacteria suggested that artificially inoculated (10(3) cfu/ml) cells are killed after 3 days, 12 days and 14 days of incubation at 37 degrees C, 8-10 degrees C and 2-4 degrees C respectively.

Colony Count, Microbial↗

PubMed2005

Spoilage of vegetable crops by bacteria and fungi and related health hazards.

After harvest, vegetables are often spoiled by a wide variety of microorganisms including many bacterial and fungal species. The most common bacterial agents are Erwinia carotovora, Pseudomonas spp., Corynebacterium, Xanthomonas campestris, and lactic acid bacteria with E. carotovora being the most common, attacking virtually every vegetable type. Fungi commonly causing spoilage of fresh vegetables are Botrytis cinerea, various species of the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Phomopsis, Fusarium, Penicillium, Phoma, Phytophthora, Pythium and Rhizopus spp., Botrytis cinerea, Ceratocystis fimbriata, Rhizoctonia solani, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and some mildews. A few of these organisms show a substrate preference whereas others such as Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Phytophthora, and Rhizopus spp., affect a wide variety of vegetables causing devastating losses. Many of these agents enter the plant tissue through mechanical or chilling injuries, or after the skin barrier has been broken down by other organisms. Besides causing huge economic losses, some fungal species could produce toxic metabolites in the affected sites, constituting a potential health hazard for humans. Additionally, vegetables have often served as vehicles for pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites and were implicated in many food borne illness outbreaks. In order to slow down vegetable spoilage and minimize the associated adverse health effects, great caution should be taken to follow strict hygiene, good agricultural practices (GAPs) and good manufacturing practices (GMPs) during cultivation, harvest, storage, transport, and marketing.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2005

Effect of vegetables on human phenolsulfotransferases in relation to their antioxidant activity and total phenolics.

Epidemiology studies have shown that consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with the prevention of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. Induction of cellular phase II detoxifying enzymes is associated with cancer preventive potential. Phenolsulfotransferases (PSTs) are traditionally known as phase II drug-metabolizing or detoxifying enzymes that facilitate the removal of drugs and other xenobiotic compounds. Phenolic acids are known to increase the activities of PSTs. In the present study, human HepG2 cells were used as model to investigate the influence of twenty vegetables on human PST activity and to evaluate the relationships to their antioxidant activity and total phenolics content. The result showed that PST-P activity was significantly (p < 0.01) induced by asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, celery and eggplant, whereas PST-M activity was induced by asparagus, broccoli, carrot, eggplant and potato at a concentration of 100 microg/ml. The vegetable extracts that induced both forms of PSTs activities were found to have higher antioxidant capacities and total phenolic content in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and Folin-Ciocalteu assay. The major polyphenols in broccoli, the most potential inducer in both forms of PSTs activities, was antioxidant phenolic acids. HPLC retention times and standard spiked indicated the presence of gallic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, gentisic acid and ferulic acid in broccoli. The overall effect of vegetables tested on the activity of PST-P was well correlated to their ORAC value and total phenolics content (r= 0.82, p < 0.05 and r = 0.78, p < 0.05). These results imply that vegetables have a capability of inducing PST activity, and the PST induction may be possibly ascribed to antioxidant phenolic acids in vegetable extracts.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed2006

Association between fruit and vegetable consumption and birth weight: a prospective study among 43,585 Danish women.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether fruit and vegetable consumption in pregnancy is associated with birth weight in a Western population. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study based on telephone interviews, a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and extractions of birth characteristics from national health registries. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The 43,585 Danish women from the Danish National Birth Cohort who had completed the FFQ in mid-pregnancy and on whom information about birth outcome was available. The exposures were frequency of green leafy vegetable (GLV) intake and quantified intake of fruit, fruit and vegetables, and fruit and vegetables and juice. The outcomes were birth weight and z-score for expected birth weight adjusted for sex and gestation week. Information on maternal height, weight, smoking, and other potential confounders was obtained through telephone interviews. RESULTS: Significant associations were found for all exposures to fruit and vegetable intake with birth weight and most with z-score. The strongest association was found for fruit intake in which case birth weight increased by 10.7 g (95% CI 7.3-14.2) per quintile. All associations were stronger among lean women (BMI<20, n = 7,169), whose children's birth weight increased by 14.6 g (95% CI 6.4-22.9) per quintile increase in fruit intake. For GLV the results were more inconclusive. When adjusted for confounders, but not for energy, the association between GLV and birth weight was significant, but the same was not the case for z-score. CONCLUSION: Fruit and vegetable consumption in pregnancy is positively associated with birth weight in well-nourished Danish women, especially among lean women.

Birth Weight↗

PubMed2001

Micronutrient composition and nutritional importance of gathered vegetables in Vietnam.

This article presents the nutrient composition and nutritional contribution of naturally occurring vegetables (NOV) in four villages in Vietnam. The frequency of consumption and quantities eaten were evaluated within the overall diet of 101 and 110 women in the Mekong Delta (flood period and rainy season, respectively) and of 103 women in the Central Highlands (rainy season). The concentrations of Ca, Fe and Zn were analysed in 28 species, and presence of tannins and phytic acid in 19 species. Provitamin carotenoids were determined in 11 species. Over 90% of the women consumed NOV, and they contributed 43, 72 and 75% (Central Highlands, Mekong rainy and Mekong flood period, respectively) of the total quantities of vegetables eaten. Aquatic species such as lpomoea aquatica and Limnocharis flava, and terrestrial vegetables such as Schismattoglottis calyptrata, were among the most commonly consumed vegetables. They were eaten in mean daily quantities exceeding 50 g and had high concentrations of Ca, Fe and beta-carotene. Other major aquatic vegetables included the stems of Eleocharis sp., Nelumbo nucifera and Nymphea lotus, all of which were used as salad vegetables and had relatively low nutrient density. The problems of assessing the current role of NOV due to lack of data on intakes in the context of the overall diets, as well as data on their composition, are addressed.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Tropical green leafy vegetables prevent garlic-induced hepatotoxicity in the rat.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is popularly consumed because of its role in the treatment and management of several diseases. However, unregulated and chronic intake of garlic can cause damage to cells through the production of free radicals. This study was carried out in order to assess the ability of some tropical green leafy vegetables (Telfairia occidentalis, Solanum macrocapon, Corchorus olitorius, Baselia alba, Cnidoscolus acontifolus, Amarantus cruentus, and Ocimum gratissimum) to prevent garlic-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Wistar strain albino rats were fed diet containing 4% garlic along with or without 40% green leafy vegetable supplement for 14 days. Thereafter, the feeding trial was terminated, the serum of the blood was prepared, and the liver, spleen, intestine, and organ were isolated for gross pathological investigation. The results of the study revealed that there was a significant increase (P < .05) in serum glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) of the albino rats fed diet containing 4% garlic supplement when compared with the rats fed the basal diet without garlic and vegetable (40%) supplement. However, there was a significant decrease (P < .05) in the serum total protein and albumin levels in those rats. Conversely, there was a consistent significant decrease (P < .05) in the SGOT and SGPT of the rats fed diet containing garlic (4%) and T. occidentalis (40%) and C. acontifolus (40%) supplement compared with those rats fed diet containing garlic (4%) supplement, while there were no consistent significant decrease in those rats fed diet with garlic (4%) alongside with 40% of other leafy vegetables (S. macrocanum, C. olitorius, B. alba, A. cruentus, and O. gratissimum). An increase in serum level of total protein and albumin was also observed in the rats fed T. occidentalis and C. acontifolus. Thus, T. occidentalis and C. acontifolus proved to be better vegetables in preventing garlic-induced hepatotoxicity compared with the other vegetables used in this study.

Alanine Transaminase↗

PubMed2005

Dairy, fruit, and vegetable intakes and functional limitations and disability in a biracial cohort: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

BACKGROUND: Dairy, fruit, and vegetable intakes may be associated with functional limitations and disability through their role in muscle function, osteoporosis, and prevention of the oxidative damage associated with aging and chronic disease. OBJECTIVE: The associations between dairy, fruit, and vegetable intakes and functional limitations and disability were examined in African Americans and whites (baseline age: 45-64 y; n=9404) in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. DESIGN: Logistic regression analyses were used to ascertain the associations between usual dairy, fruit, and vegetable intakes obtained at baseline by using a food-frequency questionnaire and lower-extremity function, activities of daily living (ADLs), and instrumental ADLs (IADLs) self-reported approximately 9 y later in models stratified by race and sex. RESULTS: Baseline dairy, fruit, and vegetable intakes tended to be inversely associated with impaired lower-extremity function, ADLs, and IADLs approximately 9 y later, particularly in African American women. For example, in African American women, baseline dairy intakes were inversely associated with impaired ADLs and IADLs [odds ratio (95% CI): 0.60 (0.40, 0.90) and 0.69 (0.48, 0.98), respectively [corrected] in the 3rd versus the [corrected] 1st tertile of intake (P [corrected] for trend<0.05]. Combined baseline intakes of fruit and vegetables were also inversely associated with impaired lower-extremity function, ADLs, and IADLs [odds ratio (95% CI): 0.67 (0.47, 0.95), 0.52 (0.36, 0.76), and 0.64 (0.45, 0.90), respectively; P for trend<0.05]. CONCLUSIONS: Dairy, fruit, and vegetable intakes may be inversely associated with functional limitations and disability. Further research is needed to ascertain the effect of diet on subsequent functional limitations and disability.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1979

Folate conjugase activity in fresh vegetables and its effect on the determination of free folate content.

The levels of naturally-occurring folate conjugates in fresh asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower lettuce, and spinach were determined together with the effect on the hydrolysis of pteroylpolyglutamates during the extraction phase of the Lactobacillus casei assay. The levels of conjugate activity vary widely among the vegetables tested, from a low of 0.30 +/- 0.21 in lettuce to a high of 106.2 +/- 6.6 mumoles/hr per 100 mg of fresh weight in spinach. The free folate values (L. casei activity before chicken pancreas conjugase treatment) in the fresh vegetables boiled 1 hr after homogenization were significantly higher than those in vegetables boiled before homogenization, while there were no significant differences in total folate (L. casei activity after treatment with conjugase from chicken pancreas). The increase in free folate values must have been due to the action of endogenous conjugases on the pteroylpolyglutamates from the time the vegetables were homogenized until the conjugase was inactivated by heat. It is concluded that reliable free folate values in fresh vegetables can be obtained only if the naturally present conjugases are inactivated before homogenization of sample in order to prevent the hydrolysis of the pteroylpolyglutamates in the vegetables.

Brassica↗

PubMed1998

Increases in human plasma antioxidant capacity after consumption of controlled diets high in fruit and vegetables.

BACKGROUND: The putative beneficial effects of an increased consumption of fruit and vegetables have been associated with antioxidant nutrients. However, the effect of fruit and vegetable consumption on the overall antioxidant status in humans is unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate whether a diet rich in fruit and vegetables would affect the antioxidant capacity of human plasma. DESIGN: Thirty-six healthy nonsmokers resided in a metabolic research unit and consumed 2 sets of controlled diets. Diet A contained 10 servings of fruit and vegetables each day for 15 d. Diet B was the same as diet A, except diet B also provided 2 servings of broccoli each day on days 6-10. There was a free-living period of a minimum of 6 wk between the 2 experiments using either diet A or diet B. Fasting plasma antioxidant capacity, measured as oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and alpha-tocopherol concentrations were determined on days 1, 6, 11, and 16. RESULTS: The fasting baseline plasma ORAC of these subjects was significantly correlated with their estimated daily intake of total antioxidants from fruit and vegetables during the previous year. Plasma ORAC of these subjects was significantly increased by both diets A and B. This increase in ORAC could not be explained by the increase in the plasma alpha-tocopherol concentration. CONCLUSION: Increased consumption of fruit and vegetables can increase the plasma antioxidant capacity in humans.

Adult↗