A systematic review of methods to assess intake of fruits and vegetables among healthy European adults and children: a DEDIPAC (DEterminants of DIet and Physical Activity) study

Fiona Riordan*, Kathleen Ryan, Ivan J. Perry, Matthias B. Schulze, Lene Frost Andersen, Anouk Geelen, Pieter van't Veer, Simone Eussen, Pieter Dagnelie, Nicole Wijckmans-Duysens, Janas M. Harrington

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Objective: Evidence suggests that health benefits are associated with consuming recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables (F&V), yet standardised assessment methods to measure F&V intake are lacking. The current review aims to identify methods to assess F&V intake among children and adults in pan-European studies and inform the development of the DEDIPAC (DEterminants of DIet and Physical Activity) toolbox of methods suitable for use in future European studies.

Design: A literature search was conducted using three electronic databases and by hand-searching reference lists. English-language studies of any design which assessed F&V intake were included in the review.

Setting: Studies involving two or more European countries were included in the review.

Subjects: Healthy, free-living children or adults.

Results: The review identified fifty-one pan-European studies which assessed F&V intake. The FFQ was the most commonly used (n 42), followed by 24 h recall (n 11) and diet records/diet history (n 7). Differences existed between the identified methods; for example, the number of F&V items on the FFQ and whether potatoes/legumes were classified as vegetables. In total, eight validated instruments were identified which assessed F&V intake among adults, adolescents or children.

Conclusions: The current review indicates that an agreed classification of F&V is needed in order to standardise intake data more effectively between European countries. Validated methods used in pan-European populations encompassing a range of European regions were identified. These methods should be considered for use by future studies focused on evaluating intake of F&V.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)417-448
Number of pages32
JournalPublic Health Nutrition
Volume20
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2017

Keywords

  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Dietary assessment
  • Europe
  • DEDIPAC
  • FOOD-FREQUENCY QUESTIONNAIRE
  • FAMILY-INVOLVED INTERVENTION
  • CORONARY-HEART-DISEASE
  • CARDIOVASCULAR RISK-FACTORS
  • LIFE-STYLE BEHAVIORS
  • PREVENT OBESITY
  • RELATIVE VALIDITY
  • EARLY CHILDHOOD.
  • EATING HABITS
  • PRESCHOOL-CHILDREN

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