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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Terry Coyne ,
Torukiri I Ibiebele ,
Sarah McNaughton ,
Ingrid HE Rutishauser ,
Kerin O'Dea ,
Allison M Hodge ,
Christine McClintock ,
Michael G Findlay  and
Amanda Lee
Terry Coyne*
Affiliation:
Nutrition Program, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Epidemiology Services Unit, Health Information Branch, Queensland Health Building, 147–163 Charlotte Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
Torukiri I Ibiebele
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Services Unit, Health Information Branch, Queensland Health Building, 147–163 Charlotte Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
Sarah McNaughton
Affiliation:
Nutrition Program, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Ingrid HE Rutishauser
Affiliation:
School of Health Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
Kerin O'Dea
Affiliation:
Menzies School of Health Research, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia
Allison M Hodge
Affiliation:
Cancer Epidemiology Centre, Cancer Council of Victoria, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
Christine McClintock
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Services Unit, Health Information Branch, Queensland Health Building, 147–163 Charlotte Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
Michael G Findlay
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Services Unit, Health Information Branch, Queensland Health Building, 147–163 Charlotte Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
Amanda Lee
Affiliation:
Statewide Health Promotion Unit, Public Health Services, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
*
*Corresponding author: Email t.coyne@sph.uq.edu.au
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Abstract

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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 (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-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 α-carotene, β-carotene, β-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.

Keywords

VegetablesFruitDietary intake methodsSerum carotenoidsRed-cell folateAntioxidantsBiological markersBrief questionsShort questionsSurveys
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 8 , Issue 3 , May 2005 , pp. 298 - 308
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2005

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