The influence of fruit and vegetable intake on the nutritional status and plasma homocysteine levels of institutionalised elderly people

Objective To determine the difference in the nutritional status of elderly people depending on their consumption of fruits and vegetables, and to study the possible association between the consumption of these foods and different cardiovascular risk factors, especially total plasma homocysteine (t-Hcys) levels. Design, setting and subjects A cross-sectional study in 152 institutionalised older people from Madrid aged ≥ 65 years. Food and nutrient intakes were recorded over 7 days using the ‘precise individual weighing’ method. The weight, height, and waist and hip circumferences of all subjects were recorded, as were their α-erythrocyte glutathione reductase, serum B 6 , B 12 and folate levels, erythrocyte folate levels, t-Hcys levels, serum lipids and blood pressure. The experimental population was then divided into tertiles depending on the serving intake of fruit and vegetables (T1, − 1 ; T2, 2.29–2.79 servings day − 1 ; and T3, >2.79 servings day − 1 ). Results Compared with T1 subjects, T3 subjects showed consumptions of cereals, pulses, meat, fish and eggs closer to those recommended ( P 1 , niacin, vitamin B 6 , folic acid, vitamin C, B 12 , vitamin A, and P, Mg, Zn and Fe was higher. The intake of fibre increased with consumption of fruit and vegetables ( r = 0.6839, P P r = 0.2665, P r = 0.2034, P r = − 0.2493, P Conclusions Greater consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with better food habits, increased vitamin and mineral intakes and lower t-Hcys levels. Considering that the fruit and vegetable intake in Spanish elderly people is very low, it is recommended that the consumption of fruits and vegetables by elderly people be increased

Animal science · Ascorbic acid · Biology · Blood pressure · Environmental health · Homocysteine · Niacin · Nutrient · Palatability · Population · Riboflavin · Vitamin · Vitamin B12 · Vitamin C · Folate and B Vitamins Research · Medicine · Nutrition and Health in Aging · Nutritional Studies and Diet · Food Science · Internal Medicine

• Assessment of non-communicable disease related lifestyle risk factors among adult population in Bangladesh

  Open Access•Md Belal Hossain, Mahmood Parvez et al.•Journal of Biosocial Science•2022

  Añadir item

• Fruit and vegetables revisited

  Open Access•Marilyn Tseng•Public Health Nutrition•2007

  Añadir item

• Estimation of the Concentration of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Plasma, Without Use of the Preparative Ultracentrifuge

  Open Access•William T Friedewald, Robert I Levy et al.•Clinical Chemistry•1972

  Añadir item

• Enzymatic Determination of Total Serum Cholesterol

  Open Access•Charles C Allain, Lucy S Poon et al.•Clinical Chemistry•1974

  Añadir item

• Traditional Mediterranean diet and longevity in the elderly

  Open Access•Antonia Trichopoulou•Public Health Nutrition•2004

  Añadir item

• Mediterranean diet and cancer

  Open Access•Carlo La Vecchia•Public Health Nutrition•2004

  Añadir item

• Levels of customary physical activity among the old and the very old living at home

  H M Dallosso, Helen Dallosso et al.•Journal of Epidemiology and…•1988

  Añadir item