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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #268306
Title: The use of a commercial vegetable juice as a practical means to increase vegetable intake: A randomized controlled trial

Author
item SHENOY, S - University Of California
item KAZAKS, A - Bastyr University
item HOLT, R - University Of California
item CHEN, H - University Of California
item WINTERS, B - Campbell Soup Research
item KHOO, C - Campbell Soup Research
item POSTON, WS - University Of Missouri
item HADDOCK, C - University Of Missouri
item REEVES, R - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item FOREYT, J - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)
item GERSHWIN, M - University Of California
item KEEN, C - University Of California

Submitted to: Nutrition Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/2010
Publication Date: 9/17/2010
Citation: Shenoy, S.F., Kazaks, A.G., Holt, R.R., Chen, H.J., Winters, B.L., Khoo, C.S., Poston, W.C., Haddock, C.K., Reeves, R.S., Foreyt, J.P., Gershwin, M.E., Keen, C.L. 2010. The use of a commercial vegetable juice as a practical means to increase vegetable intake: A randomized controlled trial. Nutrition Journal. 9 (38): 1-11.

Interpretive Summary: Vegetable consumption in the United States has declined over the past decade. Diets rich in vegetables have been associated with lower risk of certain chronic health disorders including cardiovascular disease. An increase in the 2005 USDA Dietary Guidelines for daily vegetable consumption has caused an incremental gap between dietary recommendations and current vegetable intake. This study examined if drinking vegetable juice was a practical way to help meet daily dietary recommendations set by USDA. Our results indicate the participants given vegetable juice reached recommended intake, while a comparison group who did not incorporate juice into their daily diet continued to not meet recommended intake. Preliminary findings showed that the consumption of the vegetable juice was associated with a reduction in blood pressure among the pre-hypertensive participants. These findings suggest that vegetable juice may serve as a manageable and convenient method to aid individuals in meeting dietary vegetable recommendations.

Technical Abstract: Recommendations for daily dietary vegetable intake were increased in the 2005 USDA Dietary Guidelines, as consumption of a diet rich in vegetables has been associated with lower risk of certain chronic health disorders including cardiovascular disease. However, vegetable consumption in the United States has declined over the past decade; consequently, the gap between dietary recommendations and vegetable intake is widening. The primary aim of this study is to determine if drinking vegetable juice is a practical way to help meet daily dietary recommendations, for vegetable intake consistent with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. The secondary aim is to assess the effect of a vegetable juice on measures of cardiovascular health. We conducted a 12-week, randomized, controlled, parallel-arm study consisting of 3 groups of free-living, healthy volunteers who participated in study visits at the Ragle Human Nutrition Research Center at the University of California, Davis. All subjects received education on the DASH diet and 0, 8 or 16 fluid ounces of vegetable juice daily. Assessments were completed of daily vegetable servings before and after incorporation of vegetable juice and cardiovascular health parameters including blood pressure. Without the juice, vegetable intake in all groups was lower than the 2005 Dietary Guidelines and DASH diet recommendations. The consumption of the vegetable juice helped participants reach recommended intake. In general, parameters associated with cardiovascular health did not change over time. However, in the vegetable juice intervention groups, subjects who were pre-hypertensive at the start of the study showed a significant decrease in blood pressure during the 12-week intervention period. Including 1-2 cups of vegetable juice daily was an effective and acceptable way for healthy adults to close the dietary vegetable gap. Increase in daily vegetable intake was associated with a reduction in blood pressure in subjects who were pre-hypertensive at the start of the trial.