Relative bioavailability of the flavonoids quercetin, hesperetin and naringenin given simultaneously through diet.

The bioavailability and urinary excretion of three dietary flavonoids, quercetin, hesperetin and naringenin, were investigated. Ten healthy men were asked to consume a 'juice mix' containing equal amounts of the three flavonoids, and their urine and plasma samples were collected. The resulting mean plasma area under the curve (AUC)(0-48 h) and C(max) values for quercetin and hesperetin were similar, whereas the AUC(0-48 h) of naringenin and, thus, the relative bioavailability were higher after consumption of the same dose.

Validity of a questionnaire to assess fruit and vegetable intake in adults.

Objective: To validate a method for assessing fruit and vegetable intake among adults in a population of low intake. The method assesses mean intake and ranks individuals by their usual intake.

Design: A precoded fruit and vegetable Questionnaire included a 24-h recall and a food frequency.

Fruit and vegetable intake of mothers of 11-year-old children in nine European countries: The Pro Children Cross-sectional Survey.

Objective: To describe and compare fruit and vegetable intakes of mothers of 11-year-old children across Europe.

Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were carried out in 9 European countries in October/November 2003. Self-administered questionnaires assessing fruit and vegetable consumption were used for data collection.

Fruit and vegetable intake in a sample of 11-year-old children in 9 European countries: The Pro Children Cross-sectional Survey.

Background/aims: An adequate fruit and vegetable intake provides essential nutrients and nutritive compounds and is considered an important part of a healthy lifestyle. No simple instrument has been available for the assessment of fruit and vegetable intake as well as its determinants in school-aged children applicable in different European countries. Within the Pro Children Project, such an instrument has been developed.

Validity and reproducibility of a precoded questionnaire to assess fruit and vegetable intake in European 11- to 12-year-old schoolchildren.

Background/aims: Validity and reproducibility were evaluated of a new questionnaire to assess fruit and vegetable intakes in 11- to 12-year-old children.

Methods: The precoded teacher-assisted self-administered questionnaire included two sections: a 24-hour recall part and a food frequency part. Validity was tested in 4 countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Portugal; n = 43-60 per country) using a 1-day weighed food record and 7-day food records as reference methods.

Promoting fruit and vegetable consumption among European schoolchildren: rationale, conceptualization and design of the pro children project.

Background/aims: The Pro Children Project was designed to assess fruit and vegetable consumption in European schoolchildren and their parents, as well as determinants of the children's consumption patterns. A second objective was to develop and test strategies, applicable across Europe, for promoting consumption of fruits and vegetables among schoolchildren and their parents. In this paper, the rationale, theoretical background, overall design and implementation of the project is presented.

[Food consumption in Denmark is changing. Positive trends have stagnated during the period 2001-2004].

Introduction: The aim of this study was to describe trends in food consumption habits in Denmark, based on a food frequency survey conducted by the Danish Nutrition Council in 2004, and to compare the results to results from similar surveys in 1995, 1998 and 2001.

Materials And Methods: A random population sample of 1,093 men and women, (15-92 years of age) were interviewed by telephone. They were asked 16 food frequency questions on nutritionally important foods (yoghurt, milk [2 questions], cheese, rye bread, wheat bread, sandwiches with fish, fish as the main meal, meat as the main meal, potatoes, rice, pasta, vegetables [3 questions], fruit), as well as questions about the type of milk and type of fat spreads most often used.

Urinary total flavonoid excretion but not 4-pyridoxic acid or potassium can be used as a biomarker for the intake of fruits and vegetables.

To gain better insight into the potential health effects of fruits and vegetables, reliable biomarkers of intake are needed. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of flavonoid excretion in both 24-h and morning urine samples to reflect a low intake and moderate changes in fruit and vegetable consumption. Furthermore, the urinary excretions of 4-pyridoxic acid (4-PA) and potassium were investigated as other potential biomarkers of fruit and vegetable intake.

Sociodemographic differences in dietary habits described by food frequency questions--results from Denmark.

Objectives: To investigate whether a modest number of food frequency questions are sufficient to describe sociodemographic differences in dietary habits, and to identify sociodemographic characteristics of subjects adhering to food-based dietary guidelines operationalised in a "healthy-diet index".

Design: Cross-sectional population survey.

Subjects: A total of 480 men, 515 women, aged 15-90 y.

Effect of a fruit and vegetable subscription in Danish schools.

Objective: To measure the effect of a school fruit and vegetable subscription on children's intake of fruit and vegetables after 5 weeks of intervention.

Setting: Seven primary schools in Denmark.

Design And Methods: Intervention schools (n=4) were offered a fruit and vegetable subscription comprising one piece per day.

Green tea extract only affects markers of oxidative status postprandially: lasting antioxidant effect of flavonoid-free diet.

Epidemiological studies suggest that foods rich in flavonoids might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of green tea extract (GTE) used as a food antioxidant on markers of oxidative status after dietary depletion of flavonoids and catechins. The study was designed as a 2 x 3 weeks blinded human cross-over intervention study (eight smokers, eight non-smokers) with GTE corresponding to a daily intake of 18.

Use of dietary supplements in Denmark is associated with health and former smoking.

Objectives: To describe the use of dietary supplements in a group of Danish adults and to investigate the differences between users and non-users with respect to age, gender, health and lifestyle factors.

Design: Cross-sectional study in two Danish cities.

Setting: The Danish Investigation on Iodine Intake and Thyroid Diseases, 1997-1998.

[Steadily changing food consumption of Danes. Clear trends during the period 1995-2001].

Introduction: The aim of the study was to describe trends in food habits in Denmark derived from a food frequency survey conducted by the Danish Nutrition Council in 2001 and compare it to similar surveys from 1995 and 1998.

Material And Methods: A random population sample of 1000 men and women (aged 15-91 years) were interviewed by telephone. They were asked 13 food frequency questions about nutritionally important foods (yoghurt, milk, cheese, rye bread, wheat bread, sandwiches with fish, fish as the main meal, meat as the main meal, potatoes, rice/pasta, vegetables (two questions) fruit) and about the type of milk and fat spreads most often used.

Monitoring of dietary changes by telephone interviews: results from Denmark.

Objectives: To monitor trends in Danish food habits with respect to selected key elements, from 1995 to 1998, and to evaluate the appropriateness of the method developed for that purpose.

Design And Method: Two cross-sectional population surveys, in 1995 and 1998. Data collection by computer-assisted telephone interviews including 10 food-frequency questions, questions on type of fat used on sandwiches and drinking milk, and check questions on the previous day.

Dietary guidelines and patterns of intake in Denmark.

Food-based dietary guidelines in Denmark have usually been expressed in simple terms only and need to be elaborated. Quantitative recommendations on fruit and vegetable intake were issued in 1998, recommending 600 g/d (potatoes not included). This paper is based on a national dietary survey in 1995 (n = 3098, age range 1-80 years) supplemented with data from a simple frequency survey in 1995 (n = 1007, age range 15-80 years) and from the first national survey in 1985 (n = 2242, age range 15-80 years).

[Polyphenolic antioxidants in fruit juice. Urinary excretion and effects on biological markers for antioxidative status].

This intervention study was designed as cross-over (four women, one man) with three doses of black currant/apple (1:1) juice (750, 1000, and 1500 mL) for one week corresponding to an intake of 4.8, 6.4, and 9.

[Changes in food habits among the population from 1995 to 1998].

In order to survey trends in food habits the Danish Nutrition Council initiated two food frequency surveys, comprising ten nutritionally important foods, in 1995 and in 1998. Participants were men and women, 15-90 yrs, from similar population samples (n = 1007 in 1995, 1024 in 1998). Participation rate was 62% in 1995 and 63% in 1998.

Effect of fruit juice intake on urinary quercetin excretion and biomarkers of antioxidative status.

Background: Epidemiologic studies suggest that foods rich in flavonoids might reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the effect of intake of flavonoid-containing black currant and apple juice on urinary excretion of quercetin and on markers of oxidative status.

Design: This was a crossover study with 3 doses of juice (750, 1000, and 1500 mL) consumed for 1 wk by 4 women and 1 man corresponding to an intake of 4.

[Food consumption of the population. Trends followed via telephone interviews].

This study aimed at establishing and evaluating a simple method for surveilling trends in consumption of 10 nutritionally important foods. The method is based on food frequency questions combined with questions on the previous days intake, collected through telephone interviews. Participants (461 men, 546 women, 15-60+ yrs) came from a population sample.

Iodine. Do we need an enrichment program in Denmark?

A working group was established to evaluate the need for iodine enrichment in Denmark. Judged from studies of urinary iodine excretion and one dietary survey the intake of iodine in Denmark is low compared with recommended intakes. The occurrence of non-toxic goitre is relatively high; between 9 and 13% in elderly women.

Biomarkers of habitual fish intake in adipose tissue.

The association between habitual fish and marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake, and the fatty acid composition of subcutaneous fat was studied in 24 healthy young volunteers. Habitual dietary intakes were estimated from three 7-d weighted food records made at months 0, 5, and 8 of the 8-mo study period. The adipose tissue fatty acid composition of each individual was determined by gas chromatography as the mean of two gluteal biopsies, obtained in the first and the last month of the study.