scholarly journals Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Telomere Length in a Random Sample of 5448 U.S. Adults

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1415
Author(s):  
Larry A. Tucker

The relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and telomere length was examined using a cross-sectional design and an NHANES random sample of 5448 U.S. adults. Fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption was assessed using a 24 h recall, and telomere length, an index of cellular aging, was measured using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction method. Telomere length was linearly related to F&V intake when combined (F = 22.7, p < 0.0001) and also when separated as fruit (F = 7.2, p < 0.0121) or vegetables (F = 15.4, p < 0.0005), after adjusting for covariates. Specifically, telomeres were 27.8 base pairs longer for each 100 g (3.5 ounces) of F&V consumed. Because each additional year of chronological age was associated with telomeres that were 14.9 base pairs shorter, when women and men were analyzed together, results indicated that a 100 g (3.5 oz) per day increment in F&V corresponded with 1.9 years less biological aging. When the 75th percentile of F&V intake was compared to the 25th, the difference was 4.4 years of cellular aging. When separated by sex, fruits and vegetables were both related to telomere length in women, but only vegetable intake was predictive of telomere length in men. In conclusion, evidence based on a random sample of U.S. adults indicates that the more the servings of F&V, the longer telomeres tend to be.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tessa R. Englund ◽  
Valisa E. Hedrick ◽  
Sofía Rincón-Gallardo Patiño ◽  
Lauren E. Kennedy ◽  
Kathryn W. Hosig ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In 2015, the Partnership for a Healthier America launched the branded Fruits & Veggies (FNV) Campaign to apply a unique industry-inspired marketing approach to promote fruit and vegetable sales and intake to moms and teens in two US pilot markets: Fresno, California and Hampton Roads, Virginia. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to: 1) assess brand awareness and fruit- and vegetable-related outcomes among FNV Campaign target audiences in the California and Virginia market locations; and 2) examine whether reported awareness of the FNV Campaign was associated with differences in fruit- and vegetable-related cognitive and behavioral outcomes. Methods Data for this cross-sectional study were collected using an online survey administered to a non-probability convenience sample (n = 1604; February–July 2017) of youth aged 14–20 years (n = 744) and moms aged 21–36 years (n = 860) in the two pilot markets. Descriptive statistics were computed and outcomes compared between unaware and aware respondents, controlling for sociodemographic covariates. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was conducted to assess whether fruit- and vegetable-related attitude, belief, and encouragement outcomes differed by FNV Campaign awareness; logistic regression was used to examine associations between FNV brand awareness and dichotomous variables (fruit- and vegetable-related behavioral intentions, trying new fruits and vegetables); and ANCOVA was used to assess associations with daily fruit and vegetable intake frequency. Results Approximately 20% (n = 315/1604) of respondents reported awareness of the FNV Campaign. Youth that reported awareness of the FNV Campaign (n = 167, 22.4%) had higher intentions to buy (p = 0.003) and eat (p = 0.009) fruits and vegetables than unaware respondents. Mothers that reported awareness of the FNV Campaign (n = 148, 17.2%) reported greater encouragement for friends and family to eat fruits and vegetables (p = 0.013) and were approximately 1.5 times more likely to report trying a new fruit or vegetable (p = 0.04) than mothers unaware of the Campaign. Daily fruit and vegetable intake frequency did not differ by Campaign awareness. Conclusions FNV Campaign awareness was associated with limited but positive short- and intermediate-term cognitive and behavioral outcomes among target audience respondents. These findings can inform future research to enhance understanding and improve the FNV Campaign as it is expanded to new markets nationwide.


2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Regina Galego ◽  
Gisele Liliam D'avila ◽  
Francisco de Assis Guedes de Vasconcelos

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of the fruit and vegetable intake of schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and analyze the associated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed food intake, socioeconomic, and biological data of 2,836 schoolchildren. The Chi-square test analyzed the dependent (fruit and vegetable intake) and independent variables; the latter with p-value <0.20 were selected for logistic regression analysis. The level of significance was p<0.05. Results: Only 4.8% of the sample had adequate fruit and vegetable intake. The variables associated with adequate fruit and vegetable intake were school ownership status (private versus public), mother's education level, and family income per member. After adjustment only family income per capita remained associated with fruit and vegetable intake. Conclusion: The fruit and vegetable intake of schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 years from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, is inadequate.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 285-285
Author(s):  
Michaela Sossamon ◽  
Derek Miketinas

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis is to explore baseline findings on the relationships between food security, fruit and vegetable availability, and fruit and vegetable intake in elementary children and their parents before the start of a school-garden program. Methods Third-grade students (n = 154) and their parents were recruited from a Texas elementary school that participates in a school-garden program. Prior to the start of the program, student participants along with one of their parents completed the National Cancer Institute's All-Day Screener to assess fruit, juice, and vegetable intake. Parent participants also completed other validated questionnaires to assess home availability of fruits and vegetables and food security. Regression and ANOVA were used to examine the relationships between food security, fruit and vegetable availability at home, and fruit and vegetable intake in parent and student participants. Results A total of 64 students provided consent, and 39 students (∼58% female), each with one parent (∼97% female), completed the questionnaires. Parents who reported low food security had significantly greater total fruit and vegetable intake (4.7 servings/day) along with their children (6.0 servings/day) compared with parents (2.8 servings/day) and children (3.3 servings/day) with high food security. Fruit availability at home was positively correlated with fruit intake in parents (β = 0.18; P = .0261; R2 = 0.13; ) but not children (P = .8931). No significant associations were found between vegetable availability and vegetable intake in student or parent participants. Conclusions These baseline findings indicate greater fruit and vegetable intake for children and parents with low food security, which may be due to differences in fruit intake rather than vegetable intake. Although greater fruit intake was associated with fruit availability in the home for parents, this association was not observed for children. Funding Sources None.


BMJ Open ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. e006200-e006200 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Chum ◽  
E. Farrell ◽  
T. Vaivada ◽  
A. Labetski ◽  
A. Bohnert ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Da-Hong Wang ◽  
Michiko Kogashiwa ◽  
Naoko Mori ◽  
Shikibu Yamashita ◽  
Wakako Fujii ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: Thhis study aimed to investigate the reason why people choose to consume less vegetable and fruit through examining how the stage of change and psycho-social parameters relate to vegetable and fruit intake. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study in 4 regions of Japan in which 2308 individuals (1012 men and 1296 women) aged 18 years or older who completed the questionnaires were included in the study. RESULTS: The results showed 56% of the participants were in the precontemplation stage (not thinking about consuming recommended amount of fruit and vegetable) and their average amounts of vegetable and fruit intake were far below the level of current recommendations, and subjects in the precontemplation stage showed lower scores of attitude and self efficacy. Men were more likely to be in precontemplation (67.7%) and less likely to be in action/maintenance stage (7.9%) than women (46.9%, 12.1%, respectively) (p &lt; 0.001). We also observed the scores of attitude (p = 0.06) and self-efficacy (p &lt; 0.01) rose as the stage went up from the precontemplation to action/maintenance for increasing vegetable and fruit intake. Moreover, a linear trend was found toward higher vegetable (p &lt; 0.05) and fruit (p = 0.121) intake from precontemplation to action/maintenance stage. CONCLUSION: The present evidence suggests more attention should be focused on strategy for perceptions of personal need for recommended amount of vegetable and fruit intake for those who are in the precontemplation stage. Moreover, effective programs on enhancement of self-efficacy and attitude toward vegetable and fruit consumption are needed for increasing the vegetable and fruit intake.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Vogt ◽  
Per E Gustafsson

Abstract Background: Even though the existence of inequalities in fruit and vegetable consumption has been well established, it is not clear how it is patterned across intersections of multiple social positions and identities. This study aims to investigate disparities in fruit and vegetable intake between groups at the intersection of education and gender in northern Sweden, and to estimate the discriminatory accuracy of the intersectional groups.Methods: Cross-sectional data from the 2018 Health on Equal Terms survey conducted in four regions in northern Sweden was used (N=21,853). Four intersectional groups were created: high and low educated men, and high and low educated women. Prevalence differences corresponding to joint, referent, and excess intersectional inequalities, were estimated using linear binomial regression for three binary outcome variables: inadequate fruit and vegetable intake combined, inadequate fruit intake, and inadequate vegetable intake. The analysis was adjusted for potential confounders. The discriminatory accuracy of the intersectional groups was estimated by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.Results: Low educated men had the highest prevalence of inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables combined (81.4%), fruits (53.5%), and vegetables (54.2%), while high educated women had the lowest (47.7%, 28.6%, and 19.2% respectively). The joint disparities between high educated women and low educated men were both significant and substantial for all outcome variables (34.6 pp, 28.7pp, and 34.9pp respectively, adjusted). They were mostly explained by the two referent disparities for gender and education – the part of the joint disparity explained by differences in gender and education, respectively. An inconsistent direction, magnitude, and significance between outcomes was observed for the excess intersectional disparity - the part of the joint disparity not explained by either referent disparity (-5.5pp, 0.1pp, and 3.9pp respectively, adjusted). The discriminatory accuracy of the intersectional groups was moderate (0.67, 0.64, and 0.66 respectively).Conclusion: An intersectional approach can provide a more detailed view of inequalities in fruit and vegetable consumption between groups combining several social positions. The moderate discriminatory accuracy observed here suggests that interventions and policies aiming to reduce diet inequalities should not solely be targeted at certain groups, but also be universal.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Vaidya ◽  
N Oli ◽  
UR Aryal ◽  
DB Karki ◽  
A Krettek

Background: Inadequate fruit and vegetable intake and other adverse dietary habits – along with tobacco and alcoholabuse and sub-optimal physical activity - make up the four most important behavioural risk factors of non-communicablediseases. Low fruit and vegetable intake is particularly associated with burden of high cardiovascular disease. It hasreceived more attention in the last decade, with studies that explore disparities and determinants in their intake, as wellas interventions that attempt to improve the intake.Objectives: Our study aimed to determine fruit and vegetable consumption in a peri-urban community of Nepal and tocompare this intake in relation to various socio-demographic variables.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted as a part of the HARDIC (Heart-Health Associated Research andDissemination in the Community) study in the Jhaukhel-Duwakot Health Demographic Surveillance Site in the Bhaktapurdistrict of Nepal during September-December 2011. Adults from six randomly selected clusters were interviewed by 12trained interviewers after taking informed consent. WHO-STEPS questions were used to elicit information on fruit andvegetable intake.Results: Fruit and vegetable intake in the community was low with 2.1 percent of the study population consumingthe WHO-recommended fi ve servings per day. There were differences in the intake according to the various sociodemographicfactors.Conclusions: Our study reaffi rms low fruit and vegetable intake as a public health problem in the Nepalese context.Health-promotional activities aimed at specifi c target groups are essential. Multi-sectoral coordination of health andother health-related sectors is therefore vital in addressing the issue.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v2i1.10512Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, Vol. 2, No. 1, Issue 3, Jan.-Mar., 2013, Page: 3-11


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