Daily consumption of specific categories of fruit and vegetables negatively correlated with frailty: findings from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background/objectives: The specific impact of different fruit and vegetable consumption categories on frailty is not completely understood. This study examined the relationships between the daily consumption of fruit and vegetables and frailty in a large general population.

Subjects/methods: This study used the data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2020). Two intermittent 24-h dietary recalls were used to evaluate fruit and vegetable consumption. Frailty was assessed using the frailty index. Logistic regression, stratified analyses, and restricted cubic spline models were used to examine these associations.

Results: A higher daily intake of citrus, melons, and berries (odds ratio [OR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-0.92), other fruit (OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.62-0.88), intact fruit (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.60-0.84), dark-green vegetables (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.60-0.83), and total vegetables (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.66-0.96), along with a lower fruit juice intake (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.69-0.96), were associated with a reduced risk of frailty in adults aged 18 yrs and older. Further analysis showed that the daily consumption of citrus melons and berries, other fruit, intact fruit, fruit juice, and tomatoes and tomato products were inversely associated with frailty in adults under 60 yrs and females. Dark green vegetables were inversely correlated with frailty in individuals aged 40-60 yrs and over 60 yrs, regardless of sex.

Conclusion: The daily consumption of most types of fruit, dark green vegetables, and tomatoes and tomato products may reduce the risk of frailty in American adults, particularly for individuals under 60 yrs of age and females.