Vegetables, fruits, and berries – a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023

Abstract

Vegetables, fruits, and berries comprise a large variety of foods and are recognised to play an important role in preventing chronic diseases. Many observational studies have been published during the last decade, and the aim of this scoping review is to describe the overall evidence for the role of vegetables, fruits, and berries for health-related outcomes as a basis for setting and updating food-based dietary guidelines. A scoping review was conducted according to the protocol developed within the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023 project. Current available evidence strengthens the role of consuming vegetables, fruits, and berries in preventing chronic diseases. The most robust evidence is found for cancer in the gastric system and lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. Steeper risk reductions are generally seen at the lower intake ranges, but further reductions have been seen for higher intakes for cardiovascular disease. Weaker associations are seen for type 2 diabetes. There is evidence that suggests a beneficial role also for outcomes such as osteoporosis, depression, cognitive disorders, and frailty in the elderly. The observed associations are supported by several mechanisms, indicting causal effects. Some subgroups of vegetables, fruits, and berries may have greater benefits than other subgroups, supporting a recommendation to consume a variety of these foods.