Korean J Fam Med.  2021 Sep;42(5):382-389. 10.4082/kjfm.20.0205.

Fruit Intake and Changes of Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors in People with Obesity

• Liu SS
• Kim JY
• Park JH
• Kim S
• Lee K
• Bae WK
• Lee KH
• Han JS
• Lee H
• Jung SY

• KMID: 2520337
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.20.0205

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to explore the relationship between fruit intake, changes in fruit intake, and changes in cardiometabolic factors in people with obesity.
Methods
A total of 21,270 subjects (8,718 men, 12,552 women) aged 40 years and over, from the Korean-based Genome and Epidemiology Study, were followed up for an average of 4.4 years. Fruit intake was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire at baseline and the second follow-up. The beta coefficient and confidence intervals for changes in cardiometabolic risk factors according to fruit consumption were calculated using a linear regression model.
Results
In men, the abdominal circumference decreased with changes in fruit intake (P=0.029). Fruit intake and increased fruit intake in men were associated with a lower systolic blood pressure (P=0.012 and P=0.02, respectively) and lower triglyceride levels (P=0.002 and P<0.001, respectively). In women, abdominal circumference decreased with both fruit intake and increased fruit intake (P<0.001 and P=0.013, respectively). Systolic blood pressure and triglycerides tended to decrease only with fruit intake (P=0.048 and P<0.001, respectively). Unlike in men, fasting blood glucose tended to decrease in women with both fruit intake and increased fruit intake (P=0.011 and P=0.005, respectively).
Conclusion
Fruit intake and increased fruit intake may have beneficial effects on cardiometabolic risk factors among individuals who are obese.

Keyword

Fruit; Obesity; Metabolic Syndrome; Epidemiology