Interventions on fruit and vegetable intake in low-, middle-, and high-income countries: A scoping review of evidence and knowledge gaps
Background
Adequate fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake is important for health, yet populations globally are failing to meet recommendations.
Objective
A scoping review to summarize available evidence of evaluations of interventions to increase F&V intake globally, focusing on target populations, intervention strategies, research methods, and summarizing their evaluated impacts.
Methods
We searched PubMed and Web of Science in February 2023 for intervention studies in which dietary intake of fruit and/or vegetables were documented. Eligible studies included all age groups, excluding those targeting populations with specific disease-related conditions, such as cancer patients/survivors. Only articles published in English since 2012 were included in the review.
Results
We identified 6338 articles, with 226 meeting inclusion criteria, comprising 223 unique studies and 284 intervention comparisons. Most comparisons occurred in high-income countries (n = 192) compared to low- and middle-income countries (n = 92). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs; 37.3%) and cluster RCTs (52.5%) were predominant. Interventions primarily targeted adults (31.7%), school-aged children (18.0%), children under-five (14.4%), and adolescents (13.7%), lasting an average of 24 weeks (range: 2 weeks to 20 years). Food-frequency questionnaires (59.2%) and 24-h recalls (26.8%) were the most used dietary assessment method. Health and nutrition education (75.9%) was the most common intervention, utilizing interpersonal communication, mass media, and information-communication technology, often in combinations. Positive impacts on fruit (43.9%), vegetable (40.2%), and combined F&V intake (53.0%) were observed in nearly half the intervention comparisons.
Conclusions
These findings highlight the predominance of health and nutrition education interventions, predominantly in high-income countries, showing mixed success in improving F&V intake, emphasizing the need for context-specific strategies and standardized methodologies to design sustainable, cost-effective interventions for better diet quality and health outcomes.
Authors
Azupogo, Fusta; Koyratty, Nadia; Smith, Taryn J.; Hinnouho, Guy-Marino; Tharaney, Manisha; Bliznashka, Lilia; Amunga, Dorcas A.; Angeles-Agdeppa, Imelda; Goyena, Eva; Grant, Frederick; Kinabo, Joyce; Mitchodigni, Irene Medeme; Silva, Renuka; Sitisekara, Hasara; Olney, Deanna K.; Hess, Sonja Y.
Citation
Azupogo, Fusta; Koyratty, Nadia; Smith, Taryn J.; Hinnouho, Guy-Marino; Tharaney, Manisha; Bliznashka, Lilia; et al. 2025. Interventions on fruit and vegetable intake in low-, middle-, and high-income countries: A scoping review of evidence and knowledge gaps. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 46(1_suppl): S5 – S18. https://doi.org/10.1177/03795721251314141
Keywords
Fruits; Vegetables; Health; Nutrition; Nutrition Education; Diet
Project
Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets
Record type
Journal Article
