Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

Epidemiology

Fruit and vegetable consumption and prevalence and incidence of depressive symptoms in mid-age women: results from the Australian longitudinal study on women’s health

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 69, pages 585–591 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

There is continued interest in the associations between diet and depression and several studies have focused on individual dietary factors or diet patterns to investigate the relationship. We investigated the association between fruit and vegetables and symptoms of depression in the mid-age cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health.

Subjects/Methods:

A total of 6271 women with a mean age of 55.45 (1.45 s.d.) years were followed up at three surveys over 6 years. A score of ⩾10 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression-10 scale indicated depressive symptoms. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed using short questions.

Results:

A total of 381 women (6.1%) were depressed at all three surveys over the 6-year survey period. Cross-sectional logistic regression analysis using general estimating equations showed a reduced odds of depressive symptoms (odds ratio (OR) 0.86 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.79–0.95, P=0.001)) among women who ate ⩾2 of fruit/day even after adjustment for several factors including smoking, alcohol, body mass index, physical activity, marital status, education, energy, fish intake and comorbidities. The predictive model also showed a reduced odds of depressive symptoms (OR 0.82 (95% CI 0.70–0.96, P=0.012)) among women who ate ⩾2 pieces of fruit/day. There was also an association between vegetable intake and prevalence of depressive symptoms at higher levels of intake.

Conclusions:

Increasing fruit consumption may be one important factor for reducing both the prevalence and incidence of depressive symptoms in mid-age women.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dauchet L, Amouyel P, Hercberg S, Dallongeville J . Fruit and vegetable consumption and risk of coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis of cohort studies. J Nutr 2006; 136: 2588–2593.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. He FJ, Nowson CA, Lucas M, MacGregor GA . Increased consumption of fruit and vegetables is related to a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: meta-analysis of cohort studies. J Hum Hypertens 2007; 21: 717–728.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. He FJ, Nowson CA, MacGregor GA . Fruit and vegetable consumption and stroke: meta-analysis of cohort studies. Lancet 2006; 367: 320–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Carter P, Gray LJ, Troughton J, Khunti K, Davies MJ . Fruit and vegetable intake and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2010; 341: c4229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Gonzalez CA, Lujan-Barroso L, Bueno-de-Mesquita HB, Jenab M, Duell EJ, Agudo A et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of gastric adenocarcinoma: a reanalysis of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC-EURGAST) study after a longer follow-up. Int J Cancer 2012; 131: 2910–2919.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Masala G, Assedi M, Bendinelli B, Ermini I, Sieri S, Grioni S et al. Fruit and vegetables consumption and breast cancer risk: the EPIC Italy study. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2012; 132: 1127–1136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Gibson A, Edgar JD, Neville CE, Gilchrist SE, McKinley MC, Patterson CC et al. Effect of fruit and vegetable consumption on immune function in older people: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 2012; 96: 1429–1436.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Lim SS, Vos T, Flaxman AD, Danaei G, Shibuya K, Adair-Rohani H et al. A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. Lancet 2012; 380: 2224–2260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Akbaraly TN, Brunner EJ, Ferrie JE, Marmot MG, Kivimaki M, Singh-Manoux A . Dietary pattern and depressive symptoms in middle age. Brit J Psychiatry 2009; 195: 408–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Murakami K, Sasaki S . Dietary intake and depressive symptoms: a systematic review of observational studies. Mol Nutr Food Res 2010; 54: 471–488.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Chocano-Bedoya PO, O'Reilly EJ, Lucas M, Mirzaei F, Okereke OI, Fung TT et al. Prospective study on long-term dietary patterns and incident depression in middle-aged and older women. Am J Clin Nutr 2013; 98: 813–820.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Jacka FN, Pasco JA, Mykletun A, Williams LJ, Hodge AM, O'Reilly SL et al. Association of Western and traditional diets with depression and anxiety in women. Am J Psychiatry 2010; 167: 305–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Mathers CD, Loncar D . Projections of global mortality and burden of disease from 2002 to 2030. PLoS Medicine. 2006; 3: e442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Appleton KM, Rogers PJ, Ness AR . Updated systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on depressed mood. Am J Clin Nutr 2010; 91: 757–770.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Tsai AC, Chang TL, Chi SH . Frequent consumption of vegetables predicts lower risk of depression in older Taiwanese - results of a prospective population-based study. Public Health Nutr 2012; 15: 1087–1092.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Sanchez-Villegas A, Delgado-Rodriguez M, Alonso A, Schlatter J, Lahortiga F, Serra Majem L et al. Association of the Mediterranean dietary pattern with the incidence of depression: the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra/University of Navarra follow-up (SUN) cohort. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2009; 66: 1090–1098.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Quirk SE, Williams LJ, O'Neil A, Pasco JA, Jacka FN, Housden S et al. The association between diet quality, dietary patterns and depression in adults: a systematic review. BMC Psychiatry 2013; 13: 175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. McMartin SE, Jacka FN, Colman I . The association between fruit and vegetable consumption and mental health disorders: evidence from five waves of a national survey of Canadians. Prev Med 2013; 56: 225–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Rienks J, Dobson AJ, Mishra GD . Mediterranean dietary pattern and prevalence and incidence of depressive symptoms in mid-aged women: results from a large community-based prospective study. Eur J Clin Nutr 2013; 67: 75–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Milaneschi Y, Bandinelli S, Penninx BW, Vogelzangs N, Corsi AM, Lauretani F et al. Depressive symptoms and inflammation increase in a prospective study of older adults: a protective effect of a healthy (Mediterranean-style) diet. Mol Psychiatry 2011; 16: 589–590.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Sanchez-Villegas A, Galbete C, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Martinez JA, Razquin C, Salas-Salvadó J et al. The effect of the Mediterranean diet on plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels: the PREDIMED-NAVARRA randomized trial. Nutr Neurosci 2011; 14: 195–201.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gussinyer S, Garcia-Reyna NI, Carrascosa A, Gussinyer M, Yeste D, Clemente M et al. [Anthropometric, dietetic and psychological changes after application of the "Nin@s en movimiento" program in childhood obesity]. Medicina Clinica 2008; 131: 245–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Brown WJ, Bryson L, Byles JE, Dobson AJ, Lee C, Mishra G et al. Women's Health Australia: recruitment for a national longitudinal cohort study. Women Health 1998; 28: 23–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Lee C, Dobson AJ, Brown WJ, Bryson L, Byles J, Warner-Smith P et al. Cohort Profile: the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Int J Epidemiol 2005; 34: 987–991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Lee C, Dobson AJ, Brown WJ, Bryson L, Byles J, Warner-Smith P et al. Cohort Profile: the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Int J Epidemiol 2005; 34: 987–991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia). Dietary Guidelines for Australian Adults, 3rd edn. NHMRC: Canberra, 2003.

  27. Hodge A, Patterson AJ, Brown WJ, Ireland P, Giles G . The Anti Cancer Council of Victoria FFQ: relative validity of nutrient intakes compared with weighed food records in young to middle-aged women in a study of iron supplementation. Aust N Z J Public Health 2000; 24: 576–583.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Australian Government Publishing Service NUTTAB95: Nutrient Data for Use in Australia. Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra, Australia, 1995.

  29. Andresen EM, Malmgren JA, Carter WB, Patrick DL . Screening for depression in well older adults: evaluation of a short form of the CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale). Am J Prev Med 1994; 10: 77–84.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Boey KW . Cross-validation of a short form of the CES-D in Chinese elderly. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 1994; 14: 608–617.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Cheng ST, Chan AC . The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale in older Chinese: thresholds for long and short forms. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2005; 20: 465–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Irwin M, Artin KH, Oxman MN . Screening for depression in the older adult: criterion validity of the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Arch Intern Med 1999; 159: 1701–1704.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia), Australian. Department of Health Australian Alcohol Guidelines: Health Risks and Benefits. National Health and Medical Research Council; Canberra, Australia, 2001.

  34. Brown WJ, Burton NW, Marshall AL, Miller YD . Reliability and validity of a modified self-administered version of the Active Australia physical activity survey in a sample of mid-age women. Aust N Z J Public Health 2008; 32: 535–541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. StataCorp. Stata Statistical Software: Release 13. StataCorp LP: College Station, TX, 2013.

  36. Chatzi L, Melaki V, Sarri K, Apostolaki I, Roumeliotaki T, Georgiou V et al. Dietary patterns during pregnancy and the risk of postpartum depression: the mother-child 'Rhea' cohort in Crete, Greece. Public Health Nutr 2011; 14: 1663–1670.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Verger P, Lions C, Ventelou B . Is depression associated with health risk-related behaviour clusters in adults?. Eur J Public Health 2009; 19: 618–624.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Mikolajczyk RT, El Ansari W, Maxwell AE . Food consumption frequency and perceived stress and depressive symptoms among students in three European countries. Nutr J 2009; 8: 31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Akbaraly TN, Sabia S, Shipley MJ, Batty GD, Kivimaki M . Adherence to healthy dietary guidelines and future depressive symptoms: evidence for sex differentials in the Whitehall II study. Am J Clin Nutr 2013; 97: 419–427.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Le Port A, Gueguen A, Kesse-Guyot E, Melchior M, Lemogne C, Nabi H et al. Association between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms over time: a 10-year follow-up study of the GAZEL cohort. PLoS One 2012; 7: e51593.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Lai JS, Hiles S, Bisquera A, Hure AJ, McEvoy M, Attia J . A systematic review and meta-analysis of dietary patterns and depression in community-dwelling adults. Am J Clin Nutr 2014; 99: 181–197.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Rogers PJ . A healthy body, a healthy mind: long-term impact of diet on mood and cognitive function. Proc Nutr Soc 2001; 60: 135–143.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Bonnet F, Irving K, Terra JL, Nony P, Berthezene F, Moulin P . Anxiety and depression are associated with unhealthy lifestyle in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerosis 2005; 178: 339–344.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Appleton KM, McGowan L . The relationship between restrained eating and poor psychological health is moderated by pleasure normally associated with eating. Eat Behav 2006; 7: 342–347.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Avila-Funes JA, Garant MP, Aguilar-Navarro S . (Relationship between determining factors for depressive symptoms and for dietary habits in older adults in Mexico). Pan Am J Public Health 2006; 19: 321–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Van Duyn MA, Pivonka E . Overview of the health benefits of fruit and vegetable consumption for the dietetics professional: selected literature. J Am Diet Assoc 2000; 100: 1511–1521.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Selhub J, Bagley LC, Miller J, Rosenberg IH . B vitamins, homocysteine, and neurocognitive function in the elderly. Am J Clin Nutr 2000; 71: 614S–620S.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Australian Bureau of Statistics Daily intake of fruits and vegetables: Australian Health Survey: First results 2011-2012. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra. http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/4364.0.55.0012011-12?OpenDocument accessed on 7 August 2014.

Download references

Acknowledgements

SM together with GDM and AJD conceived the analysis plan. AJD and GDM are on the steering committee of the ALSWH and are responsible for the original study design. SM analysed the data and wrote the paper. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. We thank the study team and all participants for their valuable contribution to this project. The ALSWH is conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Newcastle and the University of Queensland, and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health. GDM is supported by the Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT120100812).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland, Australia

    S Mihrshahi, A J Dobson & G D Mishra

Authors
  1. S Mihrshahi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A J Dobson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G D Mishra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G D Mishra.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mihrshahi, S., Dobson, A. & Mishra, G. Fruit and vegetable consumption and prevalence and incidence of depressive symptoms in mid-age women: results from the Australian longitudinal study on women’s health. Eur J Clin Nutr 69, 585–591 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.222

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2014.222

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links