effect of an increased intake of vegetables and fruit on weight loss, blood pressure and antioxidant defense in subjects with sleep related breathing disorders

Objective: To assess the effect of an increased consumption of vegetables and fruit on body weight, risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and antioxidant defense in obese patients with sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD). Design: Randomized, controlled trial of an intervention to increase the intake of vegetables to 400 g/day and fruit to 300 g/day. Dietary intake was calculated from a food frequency questionnaire. Antioxidant status was assessed with the ferric-reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Plasma carotenoids were biomarkers for the intake of vegetables and fruit. Setting: A hospital clinic preventing risk factors for CVD. Subjects: Subjects were 103 men and 35 women with a body mass index of 36.75.8 kg/m2 of which 57 (86%) in the control and 68 (94%) in the intervention group completed the study. Intervention: Group-based behavioral program during 3 months. Results: The mean between group differences in body weight was -2.0% (95% CI -3.6, -0.5), P