title: Associations between low consumption of fruits and vegetables and nutritional deficiencies in Brazilian schoolchildren.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined associations between the frequency of fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption and nutritional deficiencies among Brazilian schoolchildren.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, population-based study was performed. A short FFQ was used to assess consumption of fruits and vegetables (F&V) over the past month. The prevalence ratios (PR) and 95 % confidence intervals for stunting, obesity, anaemia, vitamin A and folate deficiencies, vitamin E and vitamin D insufficiencies were estimated for low F&V consumption frequency (vegetables ≤ 3 times/month and fruits ≤ 3 times/week) and compared with children with usual F&V consumption frequency (vegetables ≥ 1 time/week and fruits ≥ 4 times/week).
  
  
  METHODS
  Acrelândia, Western Brazilian Amazon.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 702 children aged 4-10 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 5 % of children consumed F&V ≥ 5 times/d. Prevalence of deficiency was 31 %, 15 %, 9 % and 2 % for vitamins D, A, E and folate, respectively. Overall, 6.3% of children were anaemic, 3.3% were stunted, 2.7% were obese and 33 % had multiple nutritional deficiencies. Low frequency of F&V consumption was associated with lower plasma concentrations of carotenoids and vitamin E. Nutritional deficiencies were higher among non-consumers of F&V when compared with usual consumers: anaemia (PR=1.9; 95 % CI 1.0, 3.7), vitamin E insufficiency (PR=2.5; 95% CI 1.5, 4.2), vitamin D insufficiency (PR=1.5; 95% CI 1.1, 1.9) and stunting (PR=2.6; 95% CI 1.1, 6.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, the occurrence of nutritional deficiencies in children with low F&V consumption was twice as high as in children with usual F&V consumption, reinforcing the importance of effective actions to promote the consumption of F&V.
authors: Department of Nutrition,School of Public Health,University of São Paulo,Av. Dr. Arnaldo 715,01246-904 São Paulo,Brazil.
authors: Rosangela Aparecida
authors: RA
authors: Augusto
authors: Department of Nutrition,School of Public Health,University of São Paulo,Av. Dr. Arnaldo 715,01246-904 São Paulo,Brazil.
authors: Fernanda
authors: F
authors: Cobayashi
authors: Department of Nutrition,School of Public Health,University of São Paulo,Av. Dr. Arnaldo 715,01246-904 São Paulo,Brazil.
authors: Marly Augusto
authors: MA
authors: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000208:ethnology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003677:Deficiency Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Nutritional status