DOES FRUIT AND VEGETABLE INTAKE DIFFER IN ADULT FEMALES AND MALES IN ISFAHAN?

AbstractINTRODUCTION: Adequate intake of fruits and vegetables (at least five servings a day) isrecommended as a nutritional behavior of great importance in prevention of chronicdiseases. This study aimed to compare the intake of fruits and vegetables in adult malesand females of Isfahan and to assess its association with personal and demographic factors,as well as seasons.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on ۱۲۳ healthy adults (۶۴ malesand ۵۹ females) during the cold season (fall and winter) and warm seasons (spring andsummer). Study samples were aged ۳۰ to ۶۰ years and were residents of Isfahan. Fruit andvegetable consumption was assessed using a ۱۱۰-item semi-quantitative food frequencyquestionnaire on fruits and vegetables. Validity of the questionnaire was evaluated in a pilotstudy through comparison with two ۲۴-hour food recalls and four food diaries. Meanconsumption of fruits and vegetables was analyzed in males and females, as well as in ageand educational groups. The relationship between the amount of fruit and vegetableconsumption and different factors including age, sex, level of education and occupation wasdetermined through stepwise linear regression.RESULTS: Mean fruit consumption in men and women in cold seasons was ۲۷۵.۳±۱۰۰.۸and ۲۳۴.۵±۱۱۶.۵ grams per day, respectively (P<۰.۰۵), and in warm seasons ۲۱۷.۶±۹۵.۵and ۱۸۵.۳±۷۷.۱ grams per day, respectively (P<۰.۰۵). Vegetable consumption in men andwomen in cold seasons was ۲۹۱.۵±۹۳.۵ and ۲۴۵.۷±۷۶.۶ grams per day, respectively(P<۰.۰۵) and in warm season ۱۹۷±۷۶.۳ and ۱۶۶.۴±۶۰.۷ grams per day, respectively(P<۰.۰۵). The proportion of men who consumed more than ۵ servings of fruits andvegetables in a day was significantly greater than women (P<۰.۰۵). Fruit and vegetableintake in men educated below junior school and high school was significantly higher than intheir female counterparts (P<۰.۰۵). Fruit and vegetable intake in single men wassignificantly lower than in their female counterparts (P<۰.۰۵).DISCUSSION: The findings show the effectiveness of social and cultural factors on thepattern of fruit and vegetable intake.Keywords • Fruits • Vegetables • Gender • Adults • Isfahan • Food frequency questionnaire