Assessment of Fruit and Vegetable Intakes of Chronic Disease Patients Treated by Primary Healthcare

Abstract

Background: Researchers and health institutions are increasingly concerned with monitoring fruit and vegetable (F&V) intakes of the Brazilian population. However, in the Brazilian primary healthcare system, nutrition education actions that focus on promoting F&V intakes are still incipient, so their potential to increase produce intake is still unknown. This cross-sectional case study aimed to assess the F&V intakes of adults treated at a primary healthcare clinic in São Paulo that develops many nutrition education actions. 

Methods: The non-random sample consisted of 181 adults. The participants answered a 24-hour dietary recall and a form with their socioeconomic, demographic, nutritional and health data, and participation in nutrition education actions at the healthcare clinic. 

Results: All participants had chronic diseases, and hypertension in women prevailed. Their mean daily F&V intake was 293.5 grams, representing a mean of 8.7% of their total energy intake. Fewer than half the sample (40.9%) achieved the World Health Organization recommendation which stipulates that F&V should provide 9% of the total dietary energy intake. Women (p=0.0281), individuals aged more than 60 years (p=0.0172), and individuals who received nutritional care (p=0.0318) consumed more F&V. 

Conclusions: The association between nutritional care and higher F&V intakes supports the expansion of nutrition education actions in primary healthcare.