Vegetable and fruit consumption, education and plasma vitamin C concentration in Russian and Finnish Karelia, 1992–2002

• Published in: Public Health Nutrition
• Main Authors: Paalanen, Laura, Prättälä, Ritva, Alfthan, Georg, Salminen, Irma, Laatikainen, Tiina
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2013
• Subjects: karelia*; Republic of Karelia
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1368980013002243; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1368980013002243

Abstract Objective To examine (i) whether the consumption of fresh vegetables, fruit and berries is associated with plasma vitamin C concentration and (ii) educational differences in plasma vitamin C concentration in two neighbouring areas in Russia and Finland. Design Cross-sectional risk factor surveys in 1992, 1997 and 2002. Logistic regression analysis was applied to examine the associations of consumption of selected foods and education with plasma vitamin C concentration. Setting District of Pitkäranta in the Republic of Karelia, Russia and North Karelia, Finland. Subjects Adults aged 25–64 years: 579 men and 612 women in Pitkäranta; 974 men and 642 women in North Karelia. Results The plasma vitamin C concentration was strikingly low in Pitkäranta, Russia across the study years. During the 10 years of monitoring, the mean plasma vitamin C concentration among men ranged from 2·5 to 8·0 μmol/l in Pitkäranta, Russia and from 27·1 to 53·9 μmol/l in North Karelia, Finland. In both areas, daily consumption of fruit was most strongly associated with plasma vitamin C, while the association of fresh vegetable consumption with plasma vitamin C was less consistent. Consumption of berries was less important in explaining plasma vitamin C. In Pitkäranta, the plasma vitamin C concentration was lower among respondents in the lowest education group. Conclusions Differences in the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruit resulted in notable differences in vitamin C status between Pitkäranta and North Karelia in spring. In comparative settings, knowledge of local food culture and validation pilots are important before conducting large population surveys.