Quality of Vegetables Based on Total Phenolic Concentration Is Lower in More Rural Consumer Food Environments in a Rural American State.

Carmen Byker Shanks,Selena Ahmed

doi:10.3390/ijerph14080924

Abstract

While daily consumption of fruits and vegetables (FVs) is widely recognized to be associated with supporting nutrition and health, disparities exist in consumer food environments regarding access to high-quality produce based on location. The purpose of this study was to evaluate FV quality using total phenolic (TP) scores (a phytochemical measure for health-promoting attributes, flavor, appearance, and shelf-life) in consumer food environments along a rural to urban continuum in the rural state of Montana, United States. Significant differences were found in the means of the FV TP scores (p < 0.0001) and vegetable TP scores (p < 0.0001) on the basis of rurality, while no significant difference was found for fruit TP scores by rurality (p < 0.2158). Specifically, FV TP scores and vegetable TP scores were highest for the least rural stores and lowest for the most rural stores. Results indicate an access gap to high-quality vegetables in more rural and more health-disparate consumer food environments of Montana compared to urban food environments. Findings highlight that food and nutrition interventions should aim to increase vegetable quality in rural consumer food environments in the state of Montana towards enhancing dietary quality and food choices. Future studies are called for that examine TP scores of a wide range of FVs in diverse food environments globally. Studies are further needed that examine linkages between FV quality, food choices, diets, and health outcomes towards enhancing food environments for public health.

Highlights

The daily consumption of fruits and vegetables (FVs) is integral for human nutrition and is associated with reduced risk of obesity and diet-related chronic disease, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes [1,2].Diet-related chronic disease is one of the major types of non-communicable diseases that are growing globally including in both developed and developing countries [3]
The least square (LS) means Tukey Honest Significant Difference (HSD) multiple comparison analysis found significant differences in the total total phenolic (TP) scores and the vegetable TP scores between rural-urban continuum codes (RUCC) 3 compared with RUCC 7, 8, and 9, while no significant differences were found for fruit TP quality scores
FV quality is determined by a range of parameters including organoleptic properties, shelf life, and the presence and concentrations of phytochemicals that are associated with nutrition and health attributes of produce

Summary

Introduction

The daily consumption of FVs is integral for human nutrition and is associated with reduced risk of obesity and diet-related chronic disease, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes [1,2]. Diet-related chronic disease is one of the major types of non-communicable diseases that are growing globally including in both developed and developing countries [3]. The majority of adults in developed and developing countries consume fewer FVs than the amounts recommended by dietary guidelines [4,5]. Previous research has identified the food environment as a determinant of health by directly influencing the availability, affordability, accessibility, and desirability of foods that impacts dietary choices and, nutrition and health [8]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion