Abstract
Fruit and vegetable consumption has been associated with improved health outcomes in children. As an extensive number of questionnaires are currently used to assess fruit and vegetable consumption, we performed a systematic review of the criterion validity of questionnaires used to estimate fruit and vegetable consumption in children, considering blood biomarkers as the reference method. Five electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science) were searched from database inception to 23 July 2018. The search strategy used the following sets of descriptors: children; fruits and vegetables; dietary questionnaires; blood biomarkers; and validation coefficient. The search terms were adapted for use with other databases in combination with database-specific filters. Potentially eligible articles were selected independently by two reviewers, separately, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two articles meeting the inclusion criteria were included. The main reason for study exclusion was the sample age range, which included adolescents. The pooled correlation coefficient was 0.32 (95% confidence interval: 0.24–0.40).This review provided insights into assessment methods of fruit and vegetable consumption in children. Although further studies are required, questionnaires for assessing fruit and vegetable consumption have fair criterion validity in children.
Highlights
International health associations recommend that children have a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, legumes, fish, and lean meat, and low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, to help maintain a healthy weight and promote cardiovascular health [1]
Our findings indicated that this criteria validity was consumption in children in comparison with blood biomarkers
Our findings suggest that the criterion validity of questionnaires and blood biomarkers for assessing fruit and vegetable consumption in children is fair
Summary
International health associations recommend that children have a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, legumes, fish, and lean meat, and low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, to help maintain a healthy weight and promote cardiovascular health [1]. Regular fruit and vegetable consumption is routinely suggested as a key component of promoting health because they are an important source of nutrients, such as water, fiber, potassium, folic acid, vitamins, and phytochemicals [1,2]. Despite the well-known benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables, children are not meeting the recommended level of five servings. Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in children is one of the major goals of dietary interventions, worldwide [6]. Valid questionnaires to assess fruit and vegetable consumption are essential to identify eating habit changes in response to interventions, and to analyze the impact of fruit consumption on health [7]
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