Abstract
The aim of the present study was to analyze the supply of energy, 19 nutrients, free sugars, and dietary fiber in the average Polish diet from fruit and fruit products. Our analysis is based on 2016 data from the national representative household budget survey conducted on a sample of 36,886 households, yielding a population of 99,230 individuals. Fruit and fruit products provided 3.12% of energy to the average diet in Poland with the highest share of bananas and apples. The highest significance of this food group was found for vitamin C (23.65%), including citrus fruits providing 8.03% of vitamin C, berries (5.97%), other fruits (3.45%), and apples (3.13%). The share of fruit and their products in the supply of free sugars is equally high and amounts to 23.52%. This means that apples provide 6.34% of free sugars, while other fruits also have a high supply of free sugars, including berries 3.68%, stone fruits 3.06%, bananas 2.56%, and citrus fruits 2.54%. The proportion of supply exceeding the percentage of energy (which was 3.12%) was obtained for carbohydrate (5.79%), and fiber (13.66%). The food group studied was particularly important (more than 5% share) in providing four minerals: potassium (8.59%), iron (5.07%), magnesium (5.51%), copper (8.81%), and three vitamins: vitamin C (23.65%), vitamin B6 (5.74%), and vitamin E (5.53%). The influence of sociodemographic and economic characteristics of households on the structure of energy and nutrient supply from fruit and fruit products was assessed using cluster analysis. There were four clusters characterized by different energy, nutrient, and fiber supply. The factors with the highest statistical significance on the supply of energy, nutrients, and fiber from fruit and fruit products were month of study, income, degree of urbanization, education, size of town, and land use. The obtained results concerning energy and nutrient supply from fruits and fruit products are important for the Polish society from the public health point of view, as indicated in the discussion of results and conclusions.
Highlights
It is recognized that fruit and fruit products consumption is associated with protective effects against various chronic diseases [1], cardiovascular diseases [2,3], hypertension [4], type 2 diabetes [5], different types of cancer [2,6,7,8], asthma [9], obesity [10], cognitive impairment [11], and depression [12,13]
The two species, apples, and bananas had almost identical and largest shares of 0.6% each, and the third source was the dried fruit and nuts subgroup, contributing just over 0.5%
Frozen fruits and fruit products were of minimal importance in providing energy
Summary
It is recognized that fruit and fruit products consumption is associated with protective effects against various chronic diseases [1], cardiovascular diseases [2,3], hypertension [4], type 2 diabetes [5], different types of cancer [2,6,7,8], asthma [9], obesity [10], cognitive impairment [11], and depression [12,13]. Fruits and vegetables are the cornerstone for a healthy and sustainable diet i.e., with low environmental impacts which contribute to food and nutrition security, and to healthy life for present and future generations [14]. The term ‘fruit’ refers to the edible part of a plant that is a mature ovary, consisting of seeds, covering, and any closely connected tissue without any consideration of whether these are edible. Culinary fruits are the subset of botanical fruits that remain after the exclusion of cereal grains, nuts, seeds (including pulses), and fruits used as vegetables (avocado, cucumber, tomato, pumpkin, eggplant, etc.) [21]. Nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, peanuts, cashews, etc.) are perceived as a special type of dry fruits that are distinguished by their woody shell and have a different nutritional value [22]. Fruits can be divided into several groups such as stone fruits (cherries, plums, peaches, apricots, nectarines), pome fruits (apples, pears), berries (blackberry, blueberry, cranberry, raspberry, strawberry), citrus (oranges, mandarin, tangerine, grapefruit, lemon), melons (watermelon, cantaloupe, casaba, honeydew melon), “Mediterranean”
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
