Psychological factors associated with fruit and vegetable intake and with biomarkers in adults from a low-income neighborhood.

Fruit and vegetable consumption is below recommended levels in the population, paricularly in low-income groups. This study assessed factors associated with self-reported intake and 2 biomarkers (potassium excretion and plasma vitamin C) in 271 adults living in a low-income neighborhood. Attitudinal barriers to change were negatively related to reported intake and to potassium excretion. Poor knowledge of recommended consumption was associated with low reported intake, low potassium excetion, and low plasma vitamin C concentration. Self-efficacy was related to reported intake but not to biomarkers. The authors conclude that several of the psychological factors associated with self-reported intake were also related to biomarkers in this population and that these may therfore be particularly appropriate targets for intervention.