title: Consumption of, and factors influencing consumption of, fruit and vegetables among elderly Chinese people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is substantial evidence that the low intake of fruit and vegetables (FV) is a major risk factor for many nutrition-related non-communicable diseases. The purpose of our study was to assess FV consumption and the variables that influence FV consumption among Chinese people age 60 and older.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four-hour dietary recall data from the 1991, 1993, 1997, 2000, 2004, 2006, and 2009 China Health and Nutrition Surveys were used to collect the FV intake and sociodemographic variables examined in this article. Data were analyzed using t tests, χ(2) tests, and logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1991 and 2009, elderly Chinese adults experienced an improvement in dietary FV intake. The FV consumption increased from 325.7 g/d in 1991 to 379.0 g/d in 2009. During this 18-y period, the proportion of daily consumers increased from 11.0% to 32.5% for fruit and remained over 95% for vegetables. Age, gender, educational attainment, community, activity level, marital status, and drinking were significantly associated with FV consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study indicated that FV intake among elderly adults in China was lower than the minimum of 400 g/d recommended by the World Health Organization. Greater public health efforts and approaches are needed to promote FV consumption in elderly Chinese adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiration, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, PR China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Cheng-yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Chao-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.lastname: Hui-Ding
authors.forename: Zhong-Mei
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Li-ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012424:Rural Population; D012907:Smoking; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D014675:Vegetables