Consumption of fruits and vegetables and associations with risk factors for non-communicable diseases in the Yangon region of Myanmar: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectivesTo explore the intake of fruits and vegetables in the Yangon region, Myanmar, and to describe associations between intake of fruits and vegetables (FV) and established risk factors for non-communicable diseases.Design2 cross-sectional studies, using the STEPs methodology.SettingUrban and rural areas of the Yangon region of Myanmar.Participants1486, men and women, 25–74 years, were recruited through a multistage cluster sampling method. Institutionalised people, military personnel, Buddhist monks and nuns were not invited. Physically and mentally ill people were excluded.ResultsMean intake of fruit was 0.8 (SE 0.1) and 0.6 (0.0) servings/day and of vegetables 2.2 (0.1) and 1.2 (0.1) servings/day, in urban and rural areas, respectively. Adjusted for included confounders (age, sex, location, income, education, smoking and low physical activity), men and women eating ≥2 servings of fruits and vegetables/day had lower odds than others of hypertriglyceridaemia (OR 0.72 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.94)). On average, women eating at least 2 servings of fruits and vegetables per day had cholesterol levels 0.28 mmol/L lower than the levels of other women. When only adjusted for sex and age, men eating at least 2 servings of fruits and vegetables per day had cholesterol levels 0.27 mmol/L higher than other men.ConclusionsA high intake of FV was associated with lower odds of hypertriglyceridaemia among men and women. It was also associated with cholesterol levels, negatively among women and positively among men.

Association between Low Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Colorectal Polyps in Thailand

“…Moreover, low fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with NCDs: type 2 diabetes (Wu et al, 2015), hypertriglyceridemia and hyperlipidemia (Kjollesdal et al, 2016), hypertension (Li et al, 2016;Borgi et al, 2016) and cardiovascular disease risk (Aune et al, 2017).…”

Women’s knowledge on common non-communicable diseases and nutritional need during pregnancy in three townships of Ayeyarwaddy region, Myanmar: a cross-sectional study

“…Most studies on NCDs have focused on risk factors and prevalence of NCDs among general population in Myanmar [22–26]. Limited studies are available on knowledge on common NCDs and nutritional need during pregnancy among women in Myanmar.…”

The Prevalence and Social Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Its Associations With Noncommunicable Diseases Risk Factors Among Adults in Laos

“…In this first nationally representative population-based survey on FAV consumption in Laos, the prevalence of inadequate (<5 servings) FAV consumption in adults (18-64 years) was 94.7% in 2013, which is much higher than in the previous 2008 Laos STEP survey conducted in 9 (5 rural and 4 urban) health districts of Vientiane Capital City (36.6%) 5 and higher than in the 2003 Laos World Health Survey (80.9%) 12 and 52 mainly low- and middle-income countries (78%), 6 in Thailand (73.4%), 9 in Vietnam (81.7%), 27 in Bangladesh (82.8%), 8 among dwellers in Yangon region in Myanmar (85.6%), 28 and in the 2003 Myanmar World Health Survey (83.6%). 6 This finding seems to indicate a further deterioration of low FAV consumption in Laos, with even a higher prevalence than other countries in the region, calling for urgent health promotion programming to increase FAV consumption in Laos.…”

“…Various factors have been found to be associated with low FAV consumption, including sociodemographic and health factors. Sociodemographic factors associated with low FAV consumption include, older age, 6,8-10 male sex, 8,9,11 lower education, 8,9,12 lower wealth, 6,8,9,12 residing in a rural area, 9 and urban area. 13 Health factors associated with low FAV consumption include high physical activity, 8 physical inactivity, 14 not being overweight, 8 smoking, 15 alcohol intake, 16 and binge drinking.…”