Colors of fruits and vegetables and 3-year changes of cardiometabolic risk factors in adults: Tehran lipid and glucose study
- P Mirmiran
- Z Bahadoran
- N Moslehi
- S Bastan
- F Azizi
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:
We aimed to investigate the associations of colors of fruit and vegetable (FV) subgroups, with 3-year changes of cardiometabolic risk factors.
SUBJECTS/METHODS:
This longitudinal study was conducted in the framework of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, between 2006-2008 and 2009-2011, on 1272 adults. Total intake of FV and their subgroups have been assessed by a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire at baseline (2006-2008) and again at the second examination (2009-2011). Demographics, anthropometrics and biochemical measures were evaluated at baseline and 3 years later. The associations of anthropometric and lipid profile changes with FV subgroups were estimated.
RESULTS:
The mean age of men and women at baseline was 39.8 ± 12.7 and 37.3 ± 12.1 years, respectively. Mean total intake of FV, red/purple, yellow, green, orange and white FV was 706 ± 337, 185 ± 95, 141 ± 91, 152 ± 77, 141 ± 87 and 22 ± 18 g/day, respectively. In men, 3-year changes of weight (β = -0.13, P = 0.01) and waist circumference (β = -0.14, P = 0.01) were related to intake of red/purple FV; the yellow group was inversely associated with 3-year changes of total cholesterol (β = -0.09, P = 0.03) and High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (β = -0.11, P = 0.03). Consumption of green and white FV was inversely related to abdominal fat gain, and atherogenic lipid parameters in men (P < 0.05). In women, higher intake of red/purple FV was associated to lower weight and abdominal fat gain, fasting serum glucose and total cholesterol (P < 0.05); yellow FV was also related to 3-year weight gain (β = -0.11, P = 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS:
Various colors of FV subgroups had different effects on cardiometabolic risk factors; higher intake of red/purple FV may be related to lower weight and abdominal fat gain, and yellow, green and white FV may be related to lipid parameters.
