Carotenoid concentrations in vegetables and fruits common to the Costa Rican diet.

The intake of vegetables and fruits has been shown to reduce the risk of multiple diseases in many different populations. Various components of these foods have been investigated to explain the protective effects. Carotenoids, a class of phytochemicals found in these foods, have been investigated for links between their oxidative, provitamin A, and cellular properties and disease risk reduction. Many nutrition-based studies employ dietary questionnaires to estimate intakes for associations with disease. Reliable assessments of the components of these foods are necessary for accurate quantification of intake. While databases have been published, they vary greatly due to differences in methodology, growth conditions, and handling. In addition, data relevant to foods grown and consumed in Latin America and Costa Rica are scarce. In this paper, we employ a quality-controlled method for analyzing foods to obtain data on vegetables and fruits that are common to the Costa Rican diet. The data is presented in tables and compared to databases from the United States and Europe.