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Fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity as predictors of disability risk factors in African-American middle-aged individuals

  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objective

To investigate fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) and different dimensions of physical activity (PA) as predictors of change in disabilities and other known precursors of progressive disability in a populationbased sample of African Americans.

Design

Longitudinal investigation of the independent associations of reported FVI and PA with six-year changes in disabilities and other known precursors of progressive disability.

Setting

Longitudinal study of a population-representative cohort of late middle-aged African Americans.

Participants

432 cohort participants with complete information on all measures.

Measurements and Analytic Approach

During wave 8 (2008), FVI was measured using 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System questions and PA dimensions using the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS). Disability measures included basic activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs); other precursors included measured gait speed, grip strength, and short physical performance battery (SPPB) and reported lower body functional limitations (LBFLs) and FRAIL scale; these were measured at wave 4 (2004) and wave 10 (2010). Residualchange score linear regression was used to identify FVI and PA factors that were independently associated with six-year changes in disability and other precursors.

Results

The study cohort was less active than the YPASdevelopment group. Longitudinally, leisurely walking was independently associated with better ADL, IADL, grip strength, SPPB, LBFL, and frailty outcomes; standing with better IADL and SPPB; intake of vegetables other than carrots, salads, or potatoes with better grip strength and frailty; and fruit juice intake with worse grip strength and frailty.

Conclusions

In this relatively inactive cohort, leisurely walking was associated with multiple beneficial outcomes. Benefits were also seen with vegetables other than potato intake, and fruit juice intake was associated with detrimental effects. This study highlights the importance of finding strategies to help this population increase PA (especially leisurely walking) and intake of whole fruits and vegetables.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Arts, Science and Humanities and School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

    Sandra Maria Lima Ribeiro

  2. School of Medicine, Geriatrics Division, St Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    J. E. Morley & T. K. Malmstrom

  3. School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience, St Louis University, St. Louis, MO, USA

    T. K. Malmstrom

  4. Regenstrief Institute, Inc.–IU Center for Aging Research, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    D. K. Miller

  5. School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, Av Dr Arnaldo, 715, CEP 01246-904, São Paulo, Brazil

    Sandra Maria Lima Ribeiro

Authors
  1. Sandra Maria Lima Ribeiro
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  2. J. E. Morley
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  3. T. K. Malmstrom
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  4. D. K. Miller
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Correspondence to Sandra Maria Lima Ribeiro.

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Ribeiro, S.M.L., Morley, J.E., Malmstrom, T.K. et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity as predictors of disability risk factors in African-American middle-aged individuals. J Nutr Health Aging 20, 891–896 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0780-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-016-0780-4

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