Relationship Between Fruit and Vegetables Intake and Common Mental Disorders in Youth: A Systematic Review

Julia Dabravolskaj; Shelby Marozoff; Katerina Maximova; Sandra Campbell; Paul J Veugelers

doi:10.3389/phrs.2022.1604686

Relationship Between Fruit and Vegetables Intake and Common Mental Disorders in Youth: A Systematic Review

Public Health Rev. 2022 Sep 20:43:1604686. doi: 10.3389/phrs.2022.1604686. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Julia Dabravolskaj¹, Shelby Marozoff¹, Katerina Maximova^{2

3}, Sandra Campbell⁴, Paul J Veugelers¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
² MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
³ Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ John W. Scott Health Sciences Library, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.

Abstract

Objective: Recent evidence suggests that adequate fruit and vegetables intake (FVI) might be associated with lower risk of common mental disorders (CMDs) in adults, but studies in youth are also beginning to emerge and are synthesized in this systematic review. Methods: Online databases were searched from inception to 30 October 2020 to locate cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies focusing on the FVI and CMDs in youth (i.e., 10-18 years old). The risk of bias of studies was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale. Results: Among 3,944 records identified, 12 studies (8 cross-sectional, 1 case-control, and 3 prospective cohort studies) were included in the final synthesis. None of the prospective cohort studies identified a statistically significant association between FVI and CMDs in youth, although inconsistent associations were reported in cross-sectional and case-control studies. Conclusion: The lack of associations between FVI and CMDs in youth, along with consistent associations in adults, might be explained by the accumulation of risk theoretical model and methodological challenges.

Keywords: adolescents; anxiety; common mental disorders; depression; healthy diet; mental health and wellbeing; vegetables and fruit; youth.

Publication types

Systematic Review