[PHNUTR-L] UCLA/LSU study details nutritional value of salad

[Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD]

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Public release date: 1-Sep-2006
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-09/uoc--usd083106.php

Contact: Sarah Anderson
sanderson at ph.ucla.edu
310-267-0440
University of California - Los Angeles

UCLA/LSU study details nutritional value of salad

Go ahead and indulge at the salad bar. "Rabbit food" is nutritious for 
people, too.

A new UCLA/Louisiana State University study of dietary data on more than 
17,500 men and women finds consumption of salad and raw vegetables 
correlates with higher concentrations of folic acid, vitamins C and E, 
lycopene and alpha and beta carotene in the bloodstream.

Published in the September edition of the peer-reviewed Journal of the 
American Dietetic Association, the study also suggests that each serving 
of salad consumed correlates with a 165 percent higher likelihood of 
meeting recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for vitamin C in women and 
119 percent greater likelihood in men.

The study is the first to examine the relationship between normal salad 
consumption and nutrient levels in the bloodstream, and also the first 
to examine the dietary adequacy of salad consumption using the latest 
nutritional guidelines of the Food and Nutrition Board of the National 
Academy of Sciences.

The findings blunt concerns about the human body's ability to absorb 
nutrients from raw vegetables, as well as concern that the structure and 
characteristics of some plants undercut nutritional value.

"The consistently higher levels of certain nutrients in the bloodstream 
of salad-eaters suggest these important components of a healthy diet are 
being well-absorbed from salad," said Lenore Arab, visiting professor of 
epidemiology at the UCLA School of Public Health and co-author of the 
study with L. Joseph Su, assistant professor at the LSU School of Public 
Health.

"The findings endorse consumption of salad and raw vegetables as an 
effective strategy for increasing intake of important nutrients. 
Unfortunately, we also found daily salad consumption is not the norm in 
any group, and is even less prevalent among African Americans," Arab said.

"We have so many food choices in this county. Increasing vegetable 
consumption is a wise strategy for composing a nutrient rich diet," she 
added. "In fact, our findings suggest that eating just one serving of 
salad or raw vegetables per day significantly boosts the likelihood of 
meeting the recommended daily intake of certain nutrients."

The study examined the relationship between reported salad consumption 
and blood serum nutrient levels, as well as dietary adequacy in pre- and 
post-menopausal women and men of comparable ages. The research team 
analyzed dietary data from 9,406 women and 8,282 men ages 18 to 45 and 
55-plus contained in the National Health and Nutrition Examination 
Survey III conducted in 1988-94.

Salad consumption was based on reported intake of salad, raw vegetables 
and salad dressing. Laboratory measurements determined levels of 
nutrients in blood serum. Associations between salad consumption and 
serum nutrient levels were determined using statistical regression 
models. Measurements were adjusted to account for age, exercise, 
anti-cholesterol medication, smoking and other variables.

###

The research was funded by an educational research grant from The 
Association for Dressings and Sauces.

The UCLA School of Public Health is dedicated to enhancing the public's 
health by conducting innovative research, training future leaders and 
health professionals, translating research into policy and practice, and 
serving local, national and international communities. For more 
information, see http://www.ph.ucla.edu/.
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar at nutritionucanlivewith.com >
"Ask the Parkinson Dietitian"  http://www.parkinson.org/
"Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease"
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