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The effect of an increased intake of vegetables and fruit on weight loss, blood pressure and antioxidant defense in subjects with sleep related breathing disorders

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 61, pages 1301–1311 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To assess the effect of an increased consumption of vegetables and fruit on body weight, risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and antioxidant defense in obese patients with sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD).

Design:

Randomized, controlled trial of an intervention to increase the intake of vegetables to 400 g/day and fruit to 300 g/day. Dietary intake was calculated from a food frequency questionnaire. Antioxidant status was assessed with the ferric-reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Plasma carotenoids were biomarkers for the intake of vegetables and fruit.

Setting:

A hospital clinic preventing risk factors for CVD.

Subjects:

Subjects were 103 men and 35 women with a body mass index of 36.7±5.8 kg/m2 of which 57 (86%) in the control and 68 (94%) in the intervention group completed the study.

Intervention:

Group-based behavioral program during 3 months.

Results:

The mean between group differences in body weight was −2.0% (95% CI −3.6, −0.5), P<0.0001. The mean between group difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) was −7.1 mm Hg (95% CI: −11.6, −2.6), P=0.0022 and −3.9 mm Hg (95% CI: −7.0, −0.9), P=0.0120, respectively. The mean change in daily intake of vegetables and fruit was 12 g (95% CI: −33, 57) and −4 g (95% CI: −79, 71) versus 245 g (95% CI: 194, 296) and 248 g (95% CI: 176, 320) in the control and intervention groups, respectively. This was reflected in higher concentrations of α-carotene and β-carotene. No change in FRAP was seen. In a multiple regression analysis the change in intake of vegetables was a significant contributor (Radj2=0.073 (95% CI: 0.019, 0.214)) to the change in weight.

Conclusion:

Targeted dietary advice to increase the intake of vegetables and fruit among subjects with SRBD contributed to weight reduction and reduced systolic and diastolic BP, but had no effect on antioxidant defense measured with FRAP.

Sponsorship:

None.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Tor Ole Klemsdal for some of the medical examinations and Hanne Dyrendal for the dietary calculations. We also thank the subjects who took part in this study. ST and MS contributed to the development of the protocol. MS performed all the dietary assessments and analyzed the data. IH assisted with the statistical analyses and RB was responsible for the FRAP and caretenoid analyses. None of the authors had any personal or financial conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Cardiology, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    M Svendsen & S Tonstad

  2. Institute for Nutrition Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    R Blomhoff

  3. Clinic for Preventive Medicine, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    I Holme

Authors
  1. M Svendsen
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  2. R Blomhoff
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  3. I Holme
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  4. S Tonstad
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Correspondence to M Svendsen.

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Svendsen, M., Blomhoff, R., Holme, I. et al. The effect of an increased intake of vegetables and fruit on weight loss, blood pressure and antioxidant defense in subjects with sleep related breathing disorders. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 1301–1311 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602652

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602652

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