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.
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.
1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health,University College Cork,Western Road,Cork,Republic of Ireland.
Fiona
F
Riordan
2School of Applied Psychology,University College Cork,Cork,Republic of Ireland.
Kathleen
K
Ryan
1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health,University College Cork,Western Road,Cork,Republic of Ireland.
Ivan J
IJ
Perry
3Department of Molecular Epidemiology,German Institute of Human Nutrition,Potsdam-Rehbrücke,Germany.
Matthias B
MB
Schulze
4Department of Nutrition,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences,University of Oslo,Oslo,Norway.
Lene Frost
LF
Andersen
5Division of Human Nutrition,Wageningen University,Wageningen,The Netherlands.
Anouk
A
Geelen
5Division of Human Nutrition,Wageningen University,Wageningen,The Netherlands.
Pieter
P
Van't Veer
6Department of Epidemiology of the Faculty of Health,Medicine and Life Sciences,Maastricht University,Maastricht,The Netherlands.
Simone
0000-0001-5621-7944
S
Eussen
6Department of Epidemiology of the Faculty of Health,Medicine and Life Sciences,Maastricht University,Maastricht,The Netherlands.
Pieter
P
Dagnelie
6Department of Epidemiology of the Faculty of Health,Medicine and Life Sciences,Maastricht University,Maastricht,The Netherlands.
Nicole
N
Wijckmans-Duysens
1Department of Epidemiology and Public Health,University College Cork,Western Road,Cork,Republic of Ireland.
Janas M
JM
Harrington
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004034:Diet Surveys / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult
DEDIPAC; Dietary assessment; Europe; Fruits and vegetables