title: Vegetable and fruit consumption, education and plasma vitamin C concentration in Russian and Finnish Karelia, 1992-2002.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine (i) whether the consumption of fresh vegetables, fruit and berries is associated with plasma vitamin C concentration and (ii) educational differences in plasma vitamin C concentration in two neighbouring areas in Russia and Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional risk factor surveys in 1992, 1997 and 2002. Logistic regression analysis was applied to examine the associations of consumption of selected foods and education with plasma vitamin C concentration.
  
  
  METHODS
  District of Pitkäranta in the Republic of Karelia, Russia and North Karelia, Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adults aged 25-64 years: 579 men and 612 women in Pitkäranta; 974 men and 642 women in North Karelia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma vitamin C concentration was strikingly low in Pitkäranta, Russia across the study years. During the 10 years of monitoring, the mean plasma vitamin C concentration among men ranged from 2·5 to 8·0 μmol/l in Pitkäranta, Russia and from 27·1 to 53·9 μmol/l in North Karelia, Finland. In both areas, daily consumption of fruit was most strongly associated with plasma vitamin C, while the association of fresh vegetable consumption with plasma vitamin C was less consistent. Consumption of berries was less important in explaining plasma vitamin C. In Pitkäranta, the plasma vitamin C concentration was lower among respondents in the lowest education group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences in the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruit resulted in notable differences in vitamin C status between Pitkäranta and North Karelia in spring. In comparative settings, knowledge of local food culture and validation pilots are important before conducting large population surveys.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Chronic Disease Prevention,National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL),PO Box 30,FI-00271 Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Paalanen
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Lifestyle and Participation,National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL),Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prättälä
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Chronic Disease Prevention,National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL),PO Box 30,FI-00271 Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alfthan
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Chronic Disease Prevention,National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL),PO Box 30,FI-00271 Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Chronic Disease Prevention,National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL),PO Box 30,FI-00271 Helsinki,Finland.
authors.forename: Tiina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Laatikainen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000208:ethnology; D004522:Educational Status; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D014675:Vegetables; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D001205:Ascorbic Acid