title: Effect of increased vegetable and fruit consumption on plasma folate and homocysteine concentrations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We assessed the effects of an intervention aimed at increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables on plasma folate and homocysteine concentrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-one healthy non-smoking women (mean +/- SD 41 +/- 4 y of age) were randomized to an intervention or a control group. Participants in the intervention group (n = 36) received weekly packets containing fruits and vegetables free of charge and were asked to consume a daily amount of >or=200 g of vegetables and two pieces of fruit (the Dutch recommended intake level) over a period of 1 mo. Control subjects did not receive any intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, reported fruit and vegetable intakes in the intervention group increased by 133 g/d (95% confidence interval [CI] 87-179, P < 0.001) for fruits and juice and 64 g/d (95% CI 37-91, P < 0.001) for vegetables and estimated folate intake from fruits and vegetables increased by 40 microg/d (95% CI 22-58, P < 0.001). However, no effect was observed on plasma folate concentrations (intervention effect 0.3 nmol/L, 95% CI -1.8 to 2.8, P = 0.77) or homocysteine concentrations (intervention effect 0.26 micromol/L, 95% CI -0.34 to 0.87, P = 0.39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that 4 wk of increased fruit and vegetable consumption to the recommended amounts may be insufficient to change plasma folate and homocysteine concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. rik.bogers@rivm.nl
authors.forename: Rik P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Bogers
authors.forename: Pieter C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Dagnelie
authors.forename: Aalt
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bast
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: Jacob D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: van Klaveren
authors.forename: Piet A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: van den Brandt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D005638:Fruit; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D014675:Vegetables; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000097:blood*; D016387:Women's Health
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D005492:Folic Acid