Socio-economic differences in the consumption of vegetables, fruit and berries in Russian and Finnish Karelia: 1992–2007

Abstract

A converging trend was observed, with the Russian consumption levels and socio-economic differences starting to approach those observed in Finland. This may be partly explained by the improvements in availability and affordability of fruit and vegetables in Pitkäranta.

Trends in the inequality of fruit and vegetable consumption between education levels indicated by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys

“…This has also been investigated in previous studies, [11][12][13]38 but unfortunately, direct comparison with those Trends in the inequality of fruit and vegetable consumption SA Hong et al Table 3. Fruit included all the raw, cooked, canned, frozen or dried fruits.…”

“…[5][6][7][8][9] Although some studies have examined trends in FV intake according to SEP, these were mostly performed in the West. [10][11][12][13] Educational attainment, income and occupational social class are established indicators of SEP. 14 Of these indicators, education is the most likely to account for socioeconomic differences. [15][16][17] Education is closely correlated with knowledge and awareness, and thus may influence food choices through nutritional knowledge and health considerations.…”

Vegetable and fruit consumption, education and plasma vitamin C concentration in Russian and Finnish Karelia, 1992–2002

“…In Pitkäranta, the concentrations were extremely low during spring at all study points. It seems that even though the consumption of fruit and vegetables has increased since 1992 in Pitkäranta (10) , no notable increase in plasma vitamin C has occurred in the meantime, as the concentrations were remarkably -The data from Pitkäranta in 1992 were omitted from the logistic regression analyses because of the skewed distribution in plasma vitamin C concentration.…”

“…The consumption of fruit and vegetables is commonly higher among women than among men and in higher educational groups compared with lower educational groups and fruit has increased in Pitkäranta in the Republic of Karelia (10) . Meanwhile, the educational differences in the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruit have increased (10) . On the whole, the level and pattern of fresh vegetable and fruit consumption in Pitkäranta have approached those in North Karelia.…”

“…The overall level of fruit and vegetable consumption is nevertheless lower in Pitkäranta than in North Karelia. From 1992 to 2002, daily consumption of fresh vegetables varied between 10-25 % and 44-72 %, daily consumption of fruit between 2-32 % and 43-82 %, and the consumption of berries at least twice weekly between 6-17 % and 38-69 % in Pitkäranta and North Karelia, respectively (10) . No up-to-date data on plasma vitamin C levels in Pitkäranta or North Karelia have been available since 1997.…”