Intake Of Green Leafy Vegetables Research Articles

Association between fruit and vegetable consumption and birth weight: A prospective study among 43,585 Danish women

To examine whether fruit and vegetable consumption in pregnancy is associated with birth weight in a Western population. Prospective cohort study based on telephone interviews, a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and extractions of birth characteristics from national health registries. The 43,585 Danish women from the Danish National Birth Cohort who had completed the FFQ in mid-pregnancy and on whom information about birth outcome was available. The exposures were frequency of green leafy vegetable (GLV) intake and quantified intake of fruit, fruit and vegetables, and fruit and vegetables and juice. The outcomes were birth weight and z-score for expected birth weight adjusted for sex and gestation week. Information on maternal height, weight, smoking, and other potential confounders was obtained through telephone interviews. Significant associations were found for all exposures to fruit and vegetable intake with birth weight and most with z-score. The strongest association was found for fruit intake in which case birth weight increased by 10.7 g (95% CI 7.3-14.2) per quintile. All associations were stronger among lean women (BMI<20, n = 7,169), whose children's birth weight increased by 14.6 g (95% CI 6.4-22.9) per quintile increase in fruit intake. For GLV the results were more inconclusive. When adjusted for confounders, but not for energy, the association between GLV and birth weight was significant, but the same was not the case for z-score. Fruit and vegetable consumption in pregnancy is positively associated with birth weight in well-nourished Danish women, especially among lean women.

An Analysis of Food and Nutrient Intake of Rural Preschool Children in Punjab

A sample of 150 preschool children spreading over 24 villages, 12 blocks, 6 districts and 3 agro-climatic regions i.e. sub-mountain (RI), central plains (RII) and south-western (RIII) were selected. The food and nutrient intake of the subjects were compared with their respective SDI (ICMR, 1984) and RDA (ICMR, 2000). The diet of rural preschool children was found to be imbalanced with plenty intake of milk and milk products and low intake of cereals, pulses and green leafy vegetables. The data of present study revealed that the requirement of macronutrients was adequately met with the intake of milk. The intake of protein and fat of rural preschool children was one and a half to two times of RDA in all the regions. Further, intake of energy was adequate in RI (103%) and nearly adequate in RII (89%) and RIII (88%). Whereas the intake of iron, ascorbic acid and niacin was inadequate. The study highlighted that the intake of food and nutrient by rural preschool children of sub-mountain region (RI) was significantly higher than those of southwestern region (RIII).

Colorectal cancer and genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1, GSTM1 and GSTT1: A case‐control study in the Grampian region of Scotland

AbstractCytochrome P‐450 CYP1A1 is involved in the metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that are derived from meat intake and tobacco smoking. Expression of the CYP1A1 gene is induced by compounds present in cruciferous vegetables. The glutathione S‐transferases play a central role in the detoxification of carcinogens, including PAHs. We investigated the association between colorectal cancer and three variants (CYP1A1*2A, CYP1A1*2C, CYP1A1*4) of the CYP1A1 gene, and homozygosity for the null deletion of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes, and the joint effects of these genotypes and smoking, meat intake and intake of green leafy vegetables in a population‐based study of 264 cases and 408 controls in Northeast Scotland. There was an inverse association with the CYP1A1*4 (m4) variant (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.13–0.70). The OR for the CYP1A1*2C (m2) variant was 1.3 (95% CI 0.59–2.91), which is similar to a combined estimate for previous studies (OR 1.2, 95% CI 0.95–1.41). We observed no association with the CYP1A1*2A (m1) variant, or the GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms. Significant interactions between all 3 CYP1A1 variants and meat intake, and between the m1 and m2 variants and intake of green leafy vegetables, were observed. There was no evidence of interaction between CYP1A1 and smoking, and no evidence of interaction between the GSTM1 or GSTT1 polymorphisms and smoking, meat intake, green leafy vegetable intake, CYP1A1 variants or each other. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Fruit and vegetable intake: vitamin C and β-carotene intake and serum concentrations in six-year-old children and their parents

Background: Intake of fruit and vegetables, which are important sources of antioxidant nutrients, has frequently been inversely related to the risk of chronic diseases. Objective: To investigate the serum concentration of vitamin C and β-carotene in relation to fruit and vegetable intake in 6-year-old children and their parents. Design: An observational study on families of healthy 6-year-old children in the Greater Reykjavik area. Serum vitamin C and β-carotene were analysed. Fruit and vegetable intake of children and their parents was assessed by 3 day weighed food records and by a food frequency questionnaire. Results: A positive correlation was seen in serum vitamin C concentration (r=0.454-0.570, p<0.005) and serum β-carotene concentration (r=0.385-0.497, p<0.02) between family members. The total intake of fruit, vegetables and fruit juice was 164±124 g (mean±SD), 302±181g and 238±175 g for children, mothers and fathers, respectively. Family members ’ intake of fresh fruit, fruit juice and green leafy vegetables was positively related (r=0.227, p<0.02 and r=0.313, p<0.01 between children and their mother and father, respectively, and r=0.247, p<0.05 between parents). Conclusions: The relationship between children’s and their parents’ fruit and vegetable intake is supported in the present study by an even stronger correlation of serum vitamin C and β-carotene between family members. Interventions aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption by children should focus on the whole family. Keywords: antioxidants; child; fruit; nutrition; parent-child relationship; vegetables

Impact of Nutrition Education on the Food and Nutrient Adequacy of Smokers

Seventy five male smokers in the age group of 25-40 years with similar smoking habits and physical activity pattern were selected from Ludhiana to study the impact of nutrition education on food and nutrient adequacy of the smokers. After assessing the basic knowledge of the subjects about the disease and its consequences and role of antioxidants by knowledge testing questionnaire the subjects were imparted nutrition education regarding the importance of antioxidants sources of antioxidants and amounts required to combat different diseases. Information was given in the form of booklet followed by brief verbal counselling regarding the contents of the booklet for three months. At the end of the study the same questionnaire was used to assess food and nutrient adequacy of the subjects after nutrition education. It was observed that intake of green leafy vegetables and fruits was increased whereas consumption of mutton meat and egg reduced significantly (P < 0.05) after nutrition education. The consumption of carbohydrate decreased significantly whereas total and visible fat decreased marginally after nutrition education. Also there was positive energy balance among smokers after nutrition education. Among vitamins and minerals vitamin E intake increased significantly after NE and subjects preferred to consume vitamin E capsule rather than antioxidant rich diet. Thus nutrition education imparted to the smokers was helpful in changing the dietary pattern of the smokers. (authors)

Effect of Supplementation of Vitamin A on the Nutritional Profile of Male Smokers

Twenty five male smokers in the age group of 25-40 years with similar smoking habits and physical activity pattern were selected from Ludhiana to study the effect of supplementation of vitamin A by food on their dietary blood lipid antioxidant profile and anthropometry. The intake of cereals green leafy vegetables and fruit intake was increased significantly (P < 0.05) whereas root and tubers meat and eggs fats and oils sugar and jaggery decreased after vitamin A supplementation. The protein carbohydrate total and visible fat intake decreased significantly. The vitamin A vitamin C and vitamin E folic acid and iron intake increased significantly (P < 0.05) after supplementation. The decrease in blood pressure was not significant. Blood glucose level decreased and blood haemoglobin level increased but not significantly after supplementation of vitamin A. The anthropometric indices of smokers did not vary significantly before and after nutratherapy of vitamin A. Antioxidant vitamin A lowers the blood cholesterol and change other blood parameters of smokers towards better side so smokers are advised to consume the foods rich in vitamin A in their daily diet. (authors)

Updated Information on Risk Factors for Lung Cancer: Findings from the JACC Study

BACKGROUND: In Japan, lung cancer is the top cause of cancer death in men and the third leading cause in women. Updated information on risk factors for lung cancer, therefore, is of great importance. The Japan Collaborative Cohort Study, a large prospective study started in 1988, has provided such information.METHODS: We reviewed published findings for lung cancer from the study. The endpoint was death from this cancer.RESULTS: The major findings were as follows. (1) The relative risks in current smokers versus nonsmokers were 4.46 in men and 3.58 in women. (2) Cigarette smoking accounted for 67.0% of lung cancer deaths in men and only 14.6% in women. (3) More than 15 years of smoking cessation may be required to decrease the risk of lung cancer to the level of never smokers. (4) A reduced risk was associated with frequent intake of green-leafy vegetables and fruit in men but not in women. These foods seemed to decrease the risk in male current or former smokers more than in female nonsmokers. (5) Serum levels of α- and β-carotenes, β-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene were inversely correlated with the risk in men. (6) In a preliminary study, serum 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine was higher in current smokers than in nonsmokers.CONCLUSIONS: The relative and attributable risks of smoking were smaller in Japan than in Western countries. In addition to smoking habits, therefore, we must pay attention to other risk factors for lung cancer or factors that modify the adverse effects of smoking including dietary factors.

Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Risk of Major Chronic Disease

Studies of fruit and vegetable consumption in relation to overall health are limited. We evaluated the relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and the incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer and of deaths from other causes in two prospective cohorts. A total of 71 910 female participants in the Nurses' Health study and 37,725 male participants in the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study who were free of major chronic disease completed baseline semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaires in 1984 and 1986, respectively. Dietary information was updated in 1986, 1990, and 1994 for women and in 1990 and 1994 for men. Participants were followed up for incidence of cardiovascular disease, cancer, or death through May 1998 (women) and January 1998 (men). Multivariable-adjusted relative risks were calculated with Cox proportional hazards analysis. We ascertained 9329 events (1964 cardiovascular, 6584 cancer, and 781 other deaths) in women and 4957 events (1670 cardiovascular diseases, 2500 cancers, and 787 other deaths) in men during follow-up. For men and women combined, participants in the highest quintile of total fruit and vegetable intake had a relative risk for major chronic disease of 0.95 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.89 to 1.01) times that of those in the lowest. Total fruit and vegetable intake was inversely associated with risk of cardiovascular disease but not with overall cancer incidence, with relative risk for an increment of five servings daily of 0.88 (95% CI = 0.81 to 0.95) for cardiovascular disease and 1.00 (95% CI = 0.95 to 1.05) for cancer. Of the food groups analyzed, green leafy vegetable intake showed the strongest inverse association with major chronic disease and cardiovascular disease. For an increment of one serving per day of green leafy vegetables, relative risks were 0.95 (95% CI = 0.92 to 0.99) for major chronic disease and 0.89 (95% CI = 0.83 to 0.96) for cardiovascular disease. Increased fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with a modest although not statistically significant reduction in the development of major chronic disease. The benefits appeared to be primarily for cardiovascular disease and not for cancer.

Food consumption, energy and nutrient intake and nutritional status in rural Bangladesh: changes from 1981-1982 to 1995-96.

To determine and evaluate changes in nutritional status, food consumption, energy and nutrient intake in rural Bangladesh, using appropriate statistical analyses. Repeated cross-sectional surveys. Two seasons in 1981-1982 and 1995-1996. Two villages with different production patterns. Anthropometric measurements of 1883 individuals, food consumption data of 404 households. Repeated measurements of one-day food weighing and anthropometry in two seasons in 1981-1982 and 1995-1996. Mixed model analyses were used to evaluate and quantify temporal changes and their interactions with determinants. Prevalence of underweight children decreased from 82 to 70% (P=0.015), wasted children from 34% to 18% (P=0.009) and chronic energy deficient adults decreased from 78 to 64% (P<0.0001). Intake of fish and green leafy vegetables increased from (l.s. mean+/-s.e.) 23+/-3.0 to 40+/-1.8 g/person/day (P<0.001) and from 28+/-4.5 to 41+/-2.7 g/person/day (P=0.019), respectively. Rice intake remained unchanged: 463+/-12 g raw/person/day in 1981-1982 and 450+/-7.3 g raw/person/day in 1995-1996 (P=0.355). Calcium and iron intakes increased by 40% (P<0.0001) and 16% (P=0.0002), respectively, whereas vitamin A intake remained unchanged. Nutritional status improved and intakes of nutrient dense food groups, fat, iron and calcium increased from 1981-1982 to 1995-1996.

Fruit and vegetable intake and population glycosylated haemoglobin levels: the EPIC-Norfolk Study.

To investigate whether self-reported frequency of fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with HbA(1C) levels in individuals not known to have diabetes, and what dietary and lifestyle factors might explain this association. Cross-sectional study. The EPIC-Norfolk Study, a population-based cohort study of diet and chronic disease. A total of 2678 men and 3318 women (45-74 y) not known to have diabetes reported weekly consumption of fruit, green leafy vegetables and other vegetables. Among men, 274 (10.2%) reported seldom or never eating fruit and 127 (4.7%) seldom or never eating green leafy vegetables. Corresponding numbers in women were 157 (4.7%) and 92 (2.8%), respectively. Participants who reported never or seldom having both fruit and green leafy vegetables had higher mean (s.d.) HbA(1C) measurements (5.43% (0.71)) than those who reported more frequent consumption (5.34% (0.67); P=0.046). Differences by category of fruit or green leafy vegetable consumption were not substantially changed after adjustment for saturated fat, dietary fibre and plasma vitamin C. These findings support the hypothesis that high intake of fruit and green leafy vegetables may influence glucose metabolism independent of dietary fibre or vitamin C alone and that increased consumption may contribute to the prevention of diabetes.

Prospective study of diet and ovarian cancer.

Evidence on dietary risk factors for ovarian cancer is inconsistent, but some studies have suggested positive associations with dietary fat, lactose, and cholesterol and negative associations with green and yellow vegetable intake. By using information from the Iowa Women's Health Study, the authors investigated the association of epithelial ovarian cancer with dietary factors in a prospective study of 29,083 postmenopausal women. Dietary information was ascertained via a food frequency questionnaire mailed to participants in 1986. During 10 years of follow-up (1986-1995), 139 of the women developed incident epithelial ovarian cancer. Incidence of the disease was not associated with dietary fat intake. Lactose and cholesterol showed moderately elevated risks. Multivariable-adjusted relative risks for the lowest to highest quartiles of lactose intake were 1.00, 1.38, 1.25, and 1.60 (p for trend = 0.12). For cholesterol, the corresponding values were 1.00, 1.34, 1.86, and 1.55 (p for trend = 0.06). Consumption of eggs was also associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Multivariable-adjusted relative risks for increasing frequency of egg consumption were 1.00 (<1/week), 1.12 (1/week), 2.04 (2-4/week), and 1.81 (>4/week) (p for trend = 0.04). Total vegetable intake was modestly and inversely associated with the risk of ovarian cancer (p for trend = 0.21). Green leafy vegetable intake was more strongly associated with a decreased risk: multivariable-adjusted relative risks for the lowest to highest intake levels were 1.00, 0.80, 0.87, and 0.44 (p = 0.01). These findings are generally in agreement with the results from previous, mostly case-control studies of diet and epithelial ovarian cancer.

Phylloquinone as a biochemical marker for the dietary intake of green leafy vegetables by the K'ekchi people of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

Vitamin K1 (phylloquinone) was examined as a potential biochemical marker of indigenous leafy green vegetable intake. Phylloquinone content for 13 species of indigenous leafy green vegetables currently consumed by the K'ekchi‐speaking people of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, ranged from 0.20–1.14 mg/100 g fresh weight for raw samples (n = 25), and from 0.27–1.51 mg/100 g fresh weight for cooked samples (n = 14) as determined by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatog‐raphy. Fasting plasma phylloquinone concentrations in a sample of K'ekchi‐speaking women (n = 26) who participated in a dietary survey that estimated the frequency of intake of leafy green vegetables ranged from 0.19–2.01 nmol/L (x = 0.79 nmol/L). When ranked plasma phylloquinone values were compared to the ranked average 7‐day intake of indigenous greens, there was no correlation between the two ranks (p = 0.2157).