Association between Fruit and Vegetable Intakes and Mental Health in the Australian Diabetes Obesity and Lifestyle Cohort

Joanna Rees; Simone Radavelli Bagatini; Johnny Lo; Jonathan M Hodgson; Claus T Christophersen; Robin M Daly; Dianna J Magliano; Jonathan E Shaw; Marc Sim; Catherine P Bondonno; Lauren C Blekkenhorst; Joanne M Dickson; Joshua R Lewis; Amanda Devine

doi:10.3390/nu13051447

Association between Fruit and Vegetable Intakes and Mental Health in the Australian Diabetes Obesity and Lifestyle Cohort

Nutrients. 2021 Apr 24;13(5):1447. doi: 10.3390/nu13051447.

Authors

Joanna Rees^{1

2}, Simone Radavelli Bagatini^{1

2}, Johnny Lo³, Jonathan M Hodgson^{1

4}, Claus T Christophersen^{2

5

6}, Robin M Daly⁷, Dianna J Magliano⁸, Jonathan E Shaw⁸, Marc Sim^{1

2

4}, Catherine P Bondonno^{1

2

4}, Lauren C Blekkenhorst^{1

2

4}, Joanne M Dickson⁹, Joshua R Lewis^{1

2

4

10}, Amanda Devine^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Nutrition Research, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Australia.
² School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Australia.
³ School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Australia.
⁴ Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, Australia.
⁵ Centre for Integrative Metabolomics & Computational Biology, School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Australia.
⁶ WA Human Microbiome Collaboration Centre, School of Molecular & Life Sciences, Curtin University, Perth 6102, Australia.
⁷ Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Deakin University, Melbourne 3125, Australia.
⁸ Clinical Diabetes and Epidemiology, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne 3004, Australia.
⁹ Psychology Discipline, School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Australia.
¹⁰ Centre for Kidney Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, School of Public Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2145, Australia.

Abstract

Increasing prevalence of mental health disorders within the Australian population is a serious public health issue. Adequate intake of fruits and vegetables (FV), dietary fibre (DF) and resistant starch (RS) is associated with better mental and physical health. Few longitudinal studies exist exploring the temporal relationship. Using a validated food frequency questionnaire, we examined baseline FV intakes of 5845 Australian adults from the AusDiab study and estimated food group-derived DF and RS using data from the literature. Perceived mental health was assessed at baseline and 5 year follow up using SF-36 mental component summary scores (MCS). We conducted baseline cross-sectional analysis and prospective analysis of baseline dietary intake with perceived mental health at 5 years. Higher baseline FV and FV-derived DF and RS intakes were associated with better 5 year MCS (p < 0.001). A higher FV intake (754 g/d vs. 251 g/d, Q4 vs. Q1) at baseline had 41% lower odds (OR = 0.59: 95% CI 0.46-0.75) of MCS below population average (<47) at 5 year follow up. Findings were similar for FV-derived DF and RS. An inverse association was observed with discretionary food-derived DF and RS. This demonstrates the association between higher intakes of FV and FV-derived DF and RS with better 5 year mental health outcomes. Further RCTs are necessary to understand mechanisms that underlie this association including elucidation of causal effects.

Keywords: dietary fibre; fruits; mental health; resistant starch; vegetables.

MeSH terms

Australia
Cohort Studies
Comorbidity
Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology*
Diet / adverse effects
Diet / methods*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Fruit*
Humans
Life Style
Male
Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
Mental Health
Middle Aged
Obesity / epidemiology*
Vegetables*