Fruits and Vegetables May Have an Unexpected Impact on Depression Risk
Increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables may lower your long-term risk of depression, according to a comprehensive twin study involving participants from the US, Australia, Denmark, and Sweden.
Twin studies are valuable for researchers because of the genetic similarity between twins. This makes it easier to attribute health differences, such as depression symptoms, to factors like diet, exercise, and living conditions.
Long-Term Study on Diet and Mood Examines 3,483 Participants Aged 45 and Above
Conducted by researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Australia, the study examined survey data on diet and mood from 3,483 individuals aged 45 and older, with follow-up periods extending up to 11 years.
“Twin pairs share 50-100% of their genetic makeup and, when raised together, experience similar family environments,” says geneticist Karen Mather from UNSW.
“One of the advantages of using twins in research is that it helps control for external factors, such as socioeconomic status early in life, which might otherwise influence the results.”
The team found a “modest” difference in depressive symptoms between individuals with high fruit and vegetable consumption (averaging 2.1 and 2.0 servings daily, respectively) and those with low intake (averaging 0.3 and 0.5 servings daily).
When comparing moderate fruit and vegetable intake to low intake, the difference in depression was less noticeable for vegetable consumption and absent for fruit intake.
It’s important to note that most participants were still consuming fewer vegetables and fruits than the recommended minimum of five servings per day.
Low Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Scandinavian Studies, Below WHO Recommendations
“We found that fruit and vegetable consumption in the two large Scandinavian studies was particularly low, with both averaging less than half of the World Health Organization’s recommended intake of at least five servings per day,” says Annabel Matison, the study’s lead author and nutrition scientist at UNSW.
“We’re unsure how much depression scores would improve if intake were increased to the recommended levels.”
While the data isn’t detailed enough to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship—since factors like physical activity weren’t included in the analysis—the study’s large sample size and the use of twins strengthen the suggestion of a connection.
“This study’s finding of a protective link between higher fruit and vegetable intake and reduced depressive symptoms aligns with most previous research,” the team notes in their published paper.
We know that fruits and vegetables benefit various aspects of health, and past studies have already shown links between diet and depression, as well as between depression and gut health (which may improve with less ultra-processed food).
The participants’ age is also significant, as depressive disorders typically peak in adults between 55 and 75, and this study suggests that increasing fruit and vegetable consumption could be a simple way to address this issue.
Read the original article on: Science Alert
