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

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

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

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Published Version

Date

2016-09-14

Authors

Riordan, Fiona

Ryan, Kathleen

Perry, Ivan J.

Schulze, Matthias B.

Andersen, Lene Frost

Geelen, Anouk

Van't Veer, Pieter

Eussen, Simone

Dagnelie, Pieter

Wijckmans-Duysens, Nicole

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Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Published Version

10.1017/S1368980016002366

Abstract

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. 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. Studies involving two or more European countries were included in the review. Healthy, free-living children or adults. 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. 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.

Keywords

Fruits and vegetables , Dietary assessment , Europe , DEDIPAC

Citation

Riordan, F., Ryan, K., Perry, I.J., Schulze, M.B., Andersen, L.F., Geelen, A., van’t Veer, P., Eussen, S., Dagnelie, P., Wijckmans-Duysens, N. and Harrington, J.M. (2016) ‘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’, Public Health Nutrition [In Press], pp. 1–32. doi: 10.1017/S1368980016002366.