Green-yellow Vegetables Research Articles

Association of food group with the changes in sarcopenia parameters over 1year in older outpatients in a frailty clinic.

This study investigated the relationship between food group and the changes in sarcopenia parameters in 1year among older outpatients. A prospective cohort study conducted between July 2017 and April 2021 included patients aged ≥ 65years attending a frailty clinic. Food group consumption adjusted for energy and body weight was conducted using a self-administered dietary history questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between tertiles of adjusted food group consumption and outcomes, including a handgrip strength decline, prolonged five-time chair stand test (5CST), decreased skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and decreased gait speed in 1year. Covariates included age, sex, height, energy intake, number of comorbidities, and the Baecke activity score. In the analysis of 165 participants (mean age 77.6 ± 6.1years, 107 women), individuals with higher consumption of sugar and sweeteners had a significantly increased risk for handgrip strength decline (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.15-5.23, P = 0.020) and prolonged 5CST (OR 3.14, 95% CI 1.38-7.13, P = 0.006). Higher consumption of beverages increased the risk of handgrip strength decline (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.11-4.76, P = 0.025). Conversely, higher legume consumption decreased the risk of SMI reduction (OR 0.35, 95%CI 0.16-0.76, P = 0.008), higher fruit consumption reduced the risk of prolonged 5CST time (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.13-0.67, P = 0.004), and higher green yellow vegetables consumption decreased the risk of reduced gait speed (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17-0.84, P = 0.017). Sugar, sweeteners, and beverages are associated with worsened sarcopenia parameters, whereas consumption of legumes, vegetables, and fruits is associated with a lower risk.

Patterns of food consumption among women with breast cancer: A multicenter study in Indonesia

BackgroundBreast cancer (BC) is a leading cancer among women globally, with a rising incidence in Indonesia. Dietary habits are implicated in BC development and progression, yet there is limited understanding among Indonesian women. This study aims to evaluate the patterns of food consumption among Indonesian women with BC. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among Indonesian women with BC at three national hospitals. The sample size was determined to be 362 participants. Each participant was provided with information and asked to provide written informed consent before face-to-face interviews. Dietary behaviors were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) adapted to local cuisine. Exploratory factor analysis was used to describe dietary behavior patterns. All analyses were performed using R version 4.3.0 with the epicalc and psych packages. ResultsParticipants were predominantly aged 50 years or older, had middle incomes, and exhibited varied dietary habits. We identified three dietary patterns: the “Carnivorous and Sugar” diet, the “Vegetables and Snacks” diet, and the “Traditional” diet. The “Carnivorous and Sugar” diet was characterized by a high consumption of meat, poultry, sweetened drinks or condiments, and desserts. The “Vegetables and Snacks” diet involved more frequent consumption of leafy green vegetables, yellow or orange vegetables, packaged snacks, and unpackaged snacks. The “Traditional” diet was marked by a high intake of tubers, eggs, and soybean products. ConclusionThis study's findings enhance our understanding of dietary patterns among Indonesian women with BC and their potential impact on BC risk. These findings highlight the importance of promoting healthy dietary habits, such as consuming more fruits, and vegetables while reducing the intake of red and processed meats, and sugary foods for BC prevention.

Exploring the association between number of teeth, food intake, and cognitive function: A 9-year longitudinal study

ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the association between the number of teeth, food intake, and cognitive function in Japanese community-dwelling older adults. MethodsThis 9-year longitudinal study included a total of 293 analyzable participants who participated in baseline and follow-up surveys. Dental status (number of teeth and periodontal pocket depth), dietary assessment using the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire, cognitive function, and the following confounding factors were evaluated: educational level, financial satisfaction, living situation, smoking and drinking habits, history of chronic diseases, apolipoprotein E-ε4 carrier, body mass index, handgrip strength, instrumental activities of daily living, and depressive symptomatology. The Japanese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment was used to evaluate cognitive function. A multinomial logistic regression analysis for the intake level of each food categorized into three groups (low, moderate, high), and a generalized estimating equation (GEE) for cognitive function over nine years were performed. ResultsAfter controlling for confounding factors, the number of teeth was shown to be associated with the intake of green-yellow vegetables and meat. Furthermore, the GEE indicated that the lowest quartile of intake of green-yellow vegetables significantly associated with lower cognitive function (unstandardized regression coefficient [B] = -0.96, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: -1.72 to -0.20), and the lowest quartile of intake of meat significantly associated with lower cognitive function (B = -1.42, 95 % CI: -2.27 to -0.58). ConclusionsThe intake of green and yellow vegetables and meat, which is influenced by the number of teeth, was associated with cognitive function in Japanese community-dwelling older adults. Clinical SignificanceThere are few studies that have examined the association between oral health, food intake, and cognitive function. This 9-year longitudinal study suggests that it is important to maintain natural teeth to enable the functional means to consume green-yellow vegetables and meat, and thereby help maintain cognitive function.

Food co-consumption network as a new approach to dietary pattern in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Dietary patterns strongly correlate with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is a leading cause of chronic liver disease in developed societies. In this study, we introduce a new definition, the co-consumption network (CCN), which depicts the common consumption patterns of food groups through network analysis. We then examine the relationship between dietary patterns and NAFLD by analyzing this network. We selected 1500 individuals living in Tehran, Iran, cross-sectionally. They completed a food frequency questionnaire and underwent scanning via the FibroScan for liver stiffness, using the CAP score. The food items were categorized into 40 food groups. We reconstructed the CCN using the Spearman correlation-based connection. We then created healthy and unhealthy clusters using the label propagation algorithm. Participants were assigned to two clusters using the hypergeometric distribution. Finally, we classified participants into two healthy NAFLD networks, and reconstructed the gender and disease differential CCNs. We found that the sweet food group was the hub of the proposed CCN, with the largest cliques of size 5 associated with the unhealthy cluster. The unhealthy module members had a significantly higher CAP score (253.7 ± 47.8) compared to the healthy module members (218.0 ± 46.4) (P < 0.001). The disease differential CCN showed that in the case of NAFLD, processed meat had been co-consumed with mayonnaise and soft drinks, in contrast to the healthy participants, who had co-consumed fruits with green leafy and yellow vegetables. The CCN is a powerful method for presenting food groups, their consumption quantity, and their interactions efficiently. Moreover, it facilitates the examination of the relationship between dietary patterns and NAFLD.

Association between subjective chewing conditions and dietary habits in Japanese workers

Previous studies on the elderly have reported that they avoid fiber-rich and hard foods in favor of softer foods as chewing ability declines. However, evidence of worker chewing conditions and dietary habits is scarce. This study aimed to clarify the association between chewing conditions and dietary habits in workers. The subjects included 6,703 workers (45.6 ± 10.2 years, range 18-64 years) who underwent medical and dental check-ups from April 2018 to March 2019 with no missing data. We classified workers into two groups, those with good chewing conditions (GCC) and those with poor chewing conditions (PCC) according to their responses to the chewing condition item in our questionnaire. We performed logistic regression analysis using the questionnaire dietary habits item response as the objective variable and chewing conditions as the explanatory variable and adjusting for sex, age, number of present teeth, periodontal pocket depth, oral hygiene status, Body Mass Index, smoking habits, alcohol intake, exercise habits, history of present illness, and stages of transtheoretical model. Additionally, we performed subgroup analysis using a similar framework stratified by sex and age groups (under 40 or older). We found significant negative associations with PCC for the following dietary habits (p < .05): Awareness of balanced diet; Regular consumption of dark green and deep yellow vegetables; Eating slowly and chewing well; Frequent consumption of seaweed and small fish; Having three meals at almost at the same time every day; Having breakfast almost every day; Eating protein dishes with every meal; Frequently consuming dairy products; Finishing eating at least two hours before bedtime. Furthermore, we found significant positive associations with PCC for the following items (p < .05): Having on average two or more bottles/cans of juice or coffee a day; Frequently eating heavy meat dishes; Frequently eating deep-fried foods such as fried dishes and pork cutlets; Frequently having instant or processed foods; Eating two or more kinds of Western or Japanese confectioneries or snacks on average a day; Frequently eating salty food; Regularly having snacks or late-night meals. Additionally, similar trends were also observed following subgroup analysis, regardless of sex or age. This study suggests that workers with PCC may retain undesirable dietary habits, regardless of sex and age. Therefore, it is necessary to expand dental check-ups in the workplace and to promote dental health guidance that targets all workers.

The Effects of Dietary Nutrient Intake on Cervical Cancer: A Brief Review

AbstractCervical cancer (CC) results from a subsequent process, starting from the infection of normal cervical epithelium with oncogenic human papillomavirus and gradually progressing to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), before finally developing into invasive cervical cancer (ICC). Over recent decades, dietary micronutrients have gained much attention due to their pivotal role in cancer prevention. We reviewed several relevant literature studies to investigate the protective roles of dietary nutrient intake in CC. Dietary intake of vitamin C, green–yellow vegetables, and provitamin A carotenoids that are rich sources of antioxidants may widely inhibit the process of CC development, whereas vitamins A and D might be more helpful in preventing the early events in the disease development. Vitamin E, lycopene, and folate are more effective for the treatment of high-grade CIN. Fruits exert their protective effects in the late stages of the cancer process, thus playing a vital role in ICC prevention. Polyphenols, flavonoids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids are more often used in cases of CC in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Thus, as a primary prevention strategy, the health benefits of various nutrients in CC must be clarified by vitro and in vivo approaches rather than epidemiological studies.

Association of Skin Carotenoid Score and Food Intake among School Children: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to evaluate the associations between skin carotenoid measurements and fruit and vegetables intake among school children. We conducted a cross-sectional study for 10-y-old children in 2020 in Japan. We compared the optical skin carotenoid score, measured using Veggie Meter®, and food intake, based on a self-administered questionnaire. Among the 328 children who were registered in the three primary schools, 321 (97.9%) agreed to undergo skin carotenoid measurements. None of the children were unable to undergo the examination or experienced any adverse events. Among the 321 children who underwent skin carotenoid measurements, 315 (96.0%) responded to the questionnaire. The baseline characteristics showed that 160 (50.8%) children were boys. The median (interquartile range) skin carotenoid score was 335 (277-407) points. The minimum and maximum scores were 138 and 822 points, respectively, and the mean score (standard deviation) was 349 (104) points. The multivariable model showed a higher intake of fruits and green-yellow vegetables and more exercises were independently associated with higher skin carotenoid scores. We showed positive associations between higher skin carotenoid scores and higher intake of fruits and green-yellow vegetables and more exercise. The skin carotenoid score could be used to promote better food intake among children.

Prudent and traditional dietary patterns are positively and negatively associated with bone mineral density in Iranian adults, respectively.

To assess the association of dietary patterns and bone mineral density (BMD), 340 healthy Iranian adults (mean age 41.5±7.7 y; 79.1% female) participated in this cross-sectional study. Lumbar spine and femoral neck BMDs were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Dietary intakes were evaluated by a valid and reliable 168-item food frequency questionnaire, and three major dietary patterns were identified using principal component factor analysis. Mean values for lumbar spine and femoral neck BMDs in participants were 0.96±0.13 and 0.92±0.12g/cm2, respectively. After controlling for age, body mass index, physical activity, energy intake, sunlight exposure, gender, education, employment status, supplement intake, and smoking in the analysis of covariance models, multivariable adjusted means of femoral neck BMD of participants in the highest tertile of the prudent pattern score (rich in green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, tomatoes, yellow vegetables, fruits and fruit juices, olives, nuts, fish, low-fat dairy products, and Doogh) were significantly higher than those in the lowest tertile (mean difference and 95% CI: 0.043 [0.003; 0.083] g/cm2, P=0.032). In contrast, multivariable adjusted means of lumbar spine BMD of participants in the highest tertile of the traditional pattern score (high in Abgoosht, vegetable oils, salt, legumes, pickles, cruciferous vegetables, refined grains, potatoes, and organ meats) were significantly lower than those in the lowest tertile (mean difference and 95% CI: -0.057 [-0.098; -0.015] g/cm2, P=0.003). The Western pattern was not associated with BMD. In conclusion, the prudent and traditional dietary patterns are positively and negatively associated with BMD in Iranian adults, respectively.

The Association with Dietary Patterns and Risk of Anemia in Japanese Elderly.

Anemia is a risk factor for frailty. Although various factors can reduce the risk of anemia, information on dietary contributions is limited. This study aimed to evaluate the association between anemia and eating patterns in Japanese elderly. Our study included 6,864 elderly individuals, aged ≥65 y, whose data were obtained from the 2010-2015 National Health and Nutritional Survey, Japan. Anemia was defined as whole blood hemoglobin concentrations <13 g/dL in men, and <12 g/dL in women. We classified eating patterns into 33 food groups, using food items obtained from dietary records, and identified three dietary patterns using principal component analysis method. Participants were assigned and divided into quartiles according to pattern-specific factor scores. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for anemia using multivariate logistic regression, and assigned the first quartile (minimum) as the reference. The overall prevalence of anemia was 17.1%. The meats and vegetables eating pattern was characterized by red meat and other vegetables, the Japanese eating pattern by rice and salted or pickled vegetables, and the fruits and vegetables eating pattern by fruits and green-yellow vegetables. Participants in the highest meats and vegetables eating pattern quartile had a 20% lower risk of anemia than those in the lowest quartile (OR 0.81; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66-1.00); the Japanese eating pattern participants had a 20% higher risk of anemia (OR 1.28; 95% CI 1.06-1.53). The fruits and vegetables eating pattern participants had no significant change in their risk of anemia. This study may indicate that consuming a high red meat diet prevents anemia in elderly Japanese individuals.

Fruit and vegetables intake in adolescents and mental health: a systematic review

The proper nutrition is indicated as a factor of a potential importance for the mental health early in life span, and among the potential products, which may influence, there are fruit and vegetables. The aim of the study was to conduct a systematic review of the observational studies analyzing the association between the fruit and vegetables intake and the mental health in adolescents. On the basis of PubMed and Web of Science databases, the papers presenting human studies and published in English until June 2019, analyzing the association between intake of fruit and/ or vegetables, as well as related products (e.g. juices) and the mental health were included to the systematic review, while they analyzed a group of adolescents. Based on the conducted systematic review, 17 studies were indicated as those which assess the influence of fruit and vegetables intake on the mental health in adolescents. For the assessment of mental health, diverse variables were taken into account, including positive (happiness, self-esteem), neutral (health-related quality of life, mental health status), and negative ones (loneliness, general difficulties, feeling worried, anxiety, stress and distress, depressive symptoms, depression, suicidal behaviors). Based on the conducted systematic review of observational studies, it may be indicated that in a groups of adolescents there was a positive association between intake of fruit and vegetable products and mental health. Especially beneficial for general mental health in adolescents, were such products as green vegetables, yellow vegetables and fresh fruit.

Knowledge of diabetes and its determinants: a cross-sectional study among adults in a Japanese community

ObjectiveTo assess general knowledge of diabetes and its determinants among adult men and women in a Japanese community.SettingA cross-sectional study with the residential registry in Gifu City. Blood tests were...

Dietary patterns in relation to inflammation in shift workers

IntroductionRotational shift work has a considerable effect on immune function and cause inflammation. In addition, it may lead to unhealthy dietary intake. No earlier study has examined the association between...

The Nutritional Characteristics of the Hypotensive WASHOKU-modified DASH Diet: A Sub-analysis of the DASH-JUMP Study.

BackgroundWe developed a WASHOKU-modified DASH diet named DASH-JUMP. We previously reported the hypotensive effect of the DASH-JUMP diet in Japanese participants with untreated high-normal Blood Pressure (BP) or stage 1 hypertension.ObjectiveWe aim to introduce the DASH-JUMP diet worldwide as a new lifestyle medicine. Accordingly, we prospectively assessed the nutritional characteristics of the DASH-JUMP diet.MethodsParticipants were treated with the DASH-JUMP diet for 2 months. Then, for 4 months after the intervention, they consumed their usual diets. We conducted a nutritional survey using the FFQg nutrient questionnaire at baseline and after 1, 2, 3, and 6 months. We received completed questionnaires from 55 participants (28 men and 27 women; mean age 54.2 ± 8.0 years) and analyzed them.ResultsThe DASH-JUMP diet is rich in green-yellow vegetables, seaweed, milk, and mushrooms, while it has low contents of meat, eggs, confectionery, oils and fats, pickles, shellfish boiled in sweetened soy sauce, and fruits. Nutrients significantly associated with the observed change in systolic BP were niacin (P = 0.005) and carbohydrate (P = 0.033). The results of the FFQg questionnaire revealed that participants who had an increased BP at 1 month after ceasing the intervention had eating habits that broadly imitated the DASH-JUMP diet at 4 months after ceasing the intervention. Therefore, the systolic and diastolic BP values at 4 months after ceasing the intervention decreased significantly compared to those at baseline.ConclusionThe DASH-JUMP diet may represent a new lifestyle medicine for reducing hypertension.

Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality-a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies.

Background: Questions remain about the strength and shape of the dose-response relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and mortality, and the effects of specific types of fruit and vegetables. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify these associations. Methods: PubMed and Embase were searched up to 29 September 2016. Prospective studies of fruit and vegetable intake and cardiovascular disease, total cancer and all-cause mortality were included. Summary relative risks (RRs) were calculated using a random effects model, and the mortality burden globally was estimated; 95 studies (142 publications) were included. Results: For fruits and vegetables combined, the summary RR per 200 g/day was 0.92 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.90–0.94, I2 = 0%, n = 15] for coronary heart disease, 0.84 (95% CI: 0.76–0.92, I2 = 73%, n = 10) for stroke, 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90–0.95, I2 = 31%, n = 13) for cardiovascular disease, 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95–0.99, I2 = 49%, n = 12) for total cancer and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.87–0.93, I2 = 83%, n = 15) for all-cause mortality. Similar associations were observed for fruits and vegetables separately. Reductions in risk were observed up to 800 g/day for all outcomes except cancer (600 g/day). Inverse associations were observed between the intake of apples and pears, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, and salads and cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, and between the intake of green-yellow vegetables and cruciferous vegetables and total cancer risk. An estimated 5.6 and 7.8 million premature deaths worldwide in 2013 may be attributable to a fruit and vegetable intake below 500 and 800 g/day, respectively, if the observed associations are causal. Conclusions: Fruit and vegetable intakes were associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and all-cause mortality. These results support public health recommendations to increase fruit and vegetable intake for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and premature mortality.

The Association between Food Group Consumption Patterns and Early Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Non-Diabetic Healthy People.

We investigated the association between dietary habits/food group consumption patterns and early risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS), a main cause for metabolic disease. Study participants were recruited from the health promotion center in Dong-A University Hospital and public advertisement. Study subjects (n = 243, 21–80 years) were categorized into three groups: Super-healthy (MetS risk factor [MetS RF] = 0, n = 111), MetS-risk carriers (MetS RF = 1–2, n = 96), and MetS (MetS RF ≥ 3, n = 27). Higher regularity in dietary habits (breakfast-everyday, regular eating time, non-frequent overeating, and non-frequent eating-out) was observed in the Super-healthy group than in the MetS-risk carriers, and particularly in the MetS subjects. The relationship between food group consumption patterns and MetS-risk related parameters were investigated with adjustment for confounding factors. Fruit consumption was positively associated with HDL-cholesterol, and tended to be negatively associated with waist circumference, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, and insulin resistance (IR). The consumption of low-fat meats and fish, and vegetables was negatively associated with hs-CRP. Specifically, the consumption of sea-foods belonging to the low-fat fish was negatively associated with fasting glucose, hs-CRP, and interleukin (IL)-6. Anchovy/dried white baits consumption was negatively associated with fasting insulin and IR. Green-yellow vegetables consumption was negatively associated with fasting insulin, IR, and hs-CRP. On the other hand, sugars and fast-foods were positively associated with LDL-cholesterol. Additionally, fast-foods consumption was positively associated with hs-CRP and IL-6 levels. In conclusion, dietary habits/food group consumption patterns are closely associated with MetS-risk related parameters in Koreans. It may suggest useful information to educate people to properly select healthy foods for early prevention of MetS.

Adherence to the Western Pattern Is Potentially an Unfavorable Indicator of Asthenozoospermia Risk: A Case-Control Study

Objective: The aim of this case-control study was to examine the relationship between dietary patterns and asthenozoospermia risk.Methods: In total, 107 incident asthenozoospermic men and 235 age-matched controls were interviewed through the infertility clinics in Tehran, Iran, from January 2012 to November 2013. Usual dietary intakes were collected using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and semen quality data were analyzed according to the fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Dietary patterns were derived using factor analysis. The first tertile served as the reference category for regression analyses.Results: In principal component analysis, 2 dietary patterns emerged: a “prudent pattern” (leafy green vegetables, yellow vegetables, other vegetables, tomatoes, fish and other seafood, fruits and natural fruit juices, legumes, whole grains, poultry, tea and coffee, low-fat dairy products, and vegetable oils) and a “Western pattern” (organ meats, red and processed meats, sugar, soft drinks and confectionary, pasta, rice and refined grains, potatoes, french fries and fast foods, high-fat dairy products, hydrogenated fats, mayonnaise and fatty sauces, and snacks). After adjustment for potential confounders, participants in the highest tertile of the prudent pattern scores had 54% lower risk of asthenozoospermia compared to those in the lowest (p for trend: 0.003). Being in the highest tertile of the Western pattern was positively associated with asthenozoospermia risk (odds ratio [OR] = 2.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.83–2.97).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that adherence to the Western pattern is potentially an unfavorable indicator of asthenozoospermia risk and a diet composed mainly of plant-based foods may be associated with a reduced risk.

Nutrition Education for Postpartum Women

This pilot study examined the effectiveness of a 4-month clinic-based dietary intervention emphasizing the intake of deep yellow and dark green vegetables versus usual care on improving diet quality in postpartum women. The intervention group (n = 31) received 1 face-to-face nutrition education session with a registered dietitian, 2 follow-up phone calls, and 3 pamphlets distributed by mail. The usual care group (n = 25) received handouts with guidelines on healthy eating. Dietary outcomes were assessed from 3-day food recalls and evaluated using paired and independent t tests. Intervention women exhibited a significant increase in total vegetable intake (P < .001) and in dark green and deep yellow vegetables (P < .001). In comparison, the control group increased the intake of total vegetables (P < .001), but did not increase the consumption of dark green and deep yellow vegetables. When comparing the change in intake between study groups for both types of vegetables, the difference was not significant. Furthermore, 61% of the intervention women met the goals for total vegetable intake compared with 12% for the usual care group (P < .001). The intervention group also had a greater percentage of women (25.8%) that met the goal for deep yellow and dark green vegetable intake when compared with the usual care group (8%; P < .08). These results suggest that postpartum women are receptive to nutrition education and that nutrition education can influence vegetable intake.

Inverse associations between serum concentrations of zeaxanthin and other carotenoids and colorectal neoplasm in Japanese

To investigate the associations between serum concentrations of carotenoids and the presence of colorectal polyps and cancers in Japanese using a cross-sectional study. 893 subjects who underwent colorectal endoscopy between 2001 and 2002 provided serum samples and information on lifestyle factors. Serum concentrations of six carotenoids were compared among patients with polyps, cancers, and controls. In males, high serum zeaxanthin was associated with decreased rates of polyps [odds ratio (OR) = 0.48, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.27-0.87] and cancer (OR = 0.35, 95 % CI 0.12-1.06), adjusting for age, body mass index, serum cholesterol, smoking status, and alcohol intake. In females, zeaxanthin (OR = 0.25, 95 % CI 0.07-0.82), lutein (OR = 0.30, 95 % CI 0.10-0.94), alpha-carotene (OR = 0.30, 95 % CI 0.10-0.90), and beta-carotene (OR = 0.27, 95 % CI 0.09-0.85) showed significant inverse associations with cancer development. These associations were consistent with findings of inverse associations between the ingestion of green-yellow vegetables (OR = 0.44, 95 % CI 0.23-0.84), carrots and pumpkins (OR = 0.46, 95 % CI 0.25-0.86), and fruits (OR = 0.53, 95 % CI 0.30-0.94) and polyp in males, and between carrots and pumpkins (OR = 0.30, 95 % CI 0.09-0.99), legumes (OR = 0.14, 95 % CI 0.04-0.44), and seaweed (OR = 0.23, 95 % CI 0.07-0.75) and cancer development in females. These results provide further support for the protective effects of carotenoids contained in green-yellow vegetables and fruits against colorectal neoplasm in Japanese.

Validation and reproducibility of an FFQ for use among adults in Botswana.

To evaluate the validity and reproducibility of a 122-item interviewer administered quantitative FFQ developed to determine food and nutrient intakes of adults in Botswana. Relative validity of the FFQ was evaluated by comparing nutrient and food group intakes against four non-consecutive 24 h recalls administered over 12 months. The FFQ was repeated after 1 year to assess reproducibility. Kanye, Botswana. Seventy-nine adults aged 18–75 years. Spearman correlation coefficients for the validity of energy-adjusted nutrients ranged from 0.42 (carbohydrate) to 0.49 (protein) for macronutrients and from 0.23 (Fe) to 0.44 (PUFA) for micronutrients. Exact agreement of quartile distribution for nutrients between the FFQ and recalls ranged from 27% to 72%. Weighted kappa values were lowest for retinol (0.13), Fe (0.22) and b-carotene (0.25) and ranged from 0.33 (SFA) to 0.59 (folate) for other nutrients (energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, Ca and vitamin E). Spearman correlation coefficients between the recalls and FFQ for food groups ranged from 0.18 (dark green leafy and yellow vegetables) to 0.58 (poultry). Reproducibility correlation coefficients (energy-adjusted) varied between 0.39 for retinol and 0.66 for vitamin E, with most values falling between 0.50 and 0.60. The FFQ had good relative validity for estimating habitual food group and nutrient intakes, but was poor for some micronutrients (Fe, retinol and b-carotene) and foods (fruits and dark green leafy vegetables).

Lifestyle and psychological factors related to irritable bowel syndrome in nursing and medical school students

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder comprising abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, and disordered defecation. The prevalence of IBS is 10-15% in the general population. This study investigated the prevalence of IBS and the relationship between IBS and stress, lifestyle, and dietary habits among nursing and medical school students. A blank self-administrated questionnaire was used to survey 2,639 students studying nursing or medicine. This questionnaire asked about IBS symptoms, lifestyle, dietary intake, life events, anxiety, and depression. The questionnaires were collected from 2,365 students (89.6%) and the responses of 1,768 students (74.8%) were analyzed. The prevalence of IBS was 35.5% as a whole, 25.2% in males and 41.5% in females. Significantly higher stress scores (anxiety and depression) and life events were found in the IBS group than in the non-IBS group. Sleep disorders and the time spent sitting were also higher in males with IBS. In the IBS group, females ate less fish, fruit, milk, and green-yellow vegetables, and more processed food products than the non-IBS group (p = 0.001, p = 0.002, p = 0.032, p = 0.037, p < 0.001). The rates of missed meals and irregular mealtimes were significantly higher in females in the IBS group (p = 0.001, p = 0.013). The prevalence of IBS was higher among nursing and medical students, and further interventional studies are needed to improve IBS symptoms.