Literature Synthesis

Author, Year, Design, Class,

Study Purpose

Population

Interventions

Results

Conclusions

Strengths/ Limitations

Horino M, Liu SY, Lee EY, Kawachi I, Pabayo R

2020

Cross-Sectional Study

Class D

The focus of this research is to see if there's a link between adult fruit and vegetable consumption and income inequalities in the United States.

N= respondents residing in the 50 states and the District of Columbia aged above 18 years.

(n = 270,612)

The six-item fruit and vegetable frequency questionnaire were used to assess fruit and vegetable consumption.

women were more likely to consume fruits and vegetables 5 times daily, fruits 2 times daily, vegetables 3 times of daily.

Sd: (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.03, 1.11)

among women,

sd for vegetables (OR = 0.93; 0.87–0.99), fruits (OR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92–0.99)

This is one of the first empirical studies to indicate a link between income inequality and fruit and vegetable consumption among adults in the United States. When women live in a state with significant wealth inequality, their health is more likely to suffer.

Strengths:

Large sample size and sample area

Use of standard deviation analysis

Limitations

Possible source of errors from huge sample size

Herran OF, Patiño GA, Gamboa EM

2019

Cross-Sectional Study

Class D

The goal of this study was to determine inequalities in fruit and vegetable consumption.

adults aged 18 to 64 (n = 5,217) and geo-demographic units (n = 33)

location: Columbia

The consumption of fruits and vegetables was estimated with a food frequency questionnaire administered as part of the 2010 Colombian National Nutrition Survey (ENSIN). Inequality indices for the consumption of whole fruits and fruit juice and for raw and cooked vegetables were estimated using data on wealth, food security, geographical area and monetary poverty

 consumption of cooked vegetables was 64.8% (95%CI: 59.2-70.4) among men and of fruit juice was 86.1% (95%CI: 82.4-89.8) among women.

The Colombian populace does not consume the recommended amounts of fruit and vegetable. Fruit juice is preferred by both men and women over entire fruits. Men are clearly at a disadvantage when it comes to vegetable eating. Poor people consume fewer fruits and vegetables.

Strengths:

Large sample size, age distribution and geographical coverage.

Limitations:

Possible errors from the questionnaire method.

Affret A, Severi G, Dow C, et al

2018

Prospective Cohort study

Class B

Factors linked to an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption on a socioeconomic level

N= 98,995

(n= 58 193 women with information on diet)

Location: France

Analysis of F and V consumption in:

1) Women with Large family

Women with partners

Larger household vegetable consumption

(OR=1·33; 95 % CI 1·24, 1·42).

Living with a partner vegetable consumption

(OR=1·07; 95 % CI 1·02, 1·13) 

Individuals with higher socioeconomic status were more likely to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables. As a result, effective health interventions for socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals are critical.

Strengths:

Large sample size, use of standard deviation

Limitations:

Gender bias study

Dijkstra SC, Neter JE, Brouwer IA, et al

2018

Longitudinal Globe Study

Class C

As data was collected over a period.

To study the socioeconomic factors that influenced changes in fruit and vegetable consumption between 2004 and 2011.

N = 2978 Dutch adults aged 25-75 years

Location: Netharlands

A self-reported questionnaire in 2004 and 2011, including questions on fruit and vegetable intake (frequency per week), indicators of socio-economic position (education, income) and perceived financial barriers (fruits/vegetables are expensive, financial distress). Associations were analyzed using ordinal logistic regression

lowest income in 2004 were more likely to report a decrease in intake of cooked vegetables (P-trend<0·001) and raw vegetables (P-trend<0·001) between 2004 and 2011

lowest education level in 2004 were more likely to report a decrease in intake of fruits (P-trend=0·021), cooked vegetables (P-trend=0·033), raw vegetables (P-trend<0·001) and fruit juice (P-trend=0·027)

Between 2004 and 2011, there was a widening of relative wealth and educational inequalities in fruit and vegetable consumption.

Strengths:

Large sample size, use of z-tests and t-tests

Limitations:

Use of self-reported questionnaire that cannot be fully relied upon.

Menezes MC, Diez Roux AV, Souza Lopes AC

2018

Cross-Sectional study

Class D

Evaluate the impact of the food environment and self-efficacy views on the consumption of fruits and vegetables (FV).

N= 3414

aged above 21 years

Location: brazil

A survey was used to assess participants' perceptions of the food environment, and they were questioned how confident they were that FV will be available in their area.

self-efficacy in addition to FV consumption were higher in older participants and those with higher incomes and educational levels (p = 0.062) and (p < 0.001)

Individuals' self-efficacy for improving FV intake was more relevant to increased consumption than perceptions of food surroundings among participants from poor socioeconomic backgrounds.

Strengths:

Large sample size

Cross-sectional study analysis

Limitations:

Use of survey method could skip out potential participants