Flavonoid-rich foods and total fruit intake in mid-life reduces risk of depression later

Mental illness is a significant cause of disability and a major component of the global burden of disease. Mental illness has the longest years lived with disability (YLDs) and the same level of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) as cardiovascular and circulatory diseases

They evaluated the association between vegetable and fruit consumption-particularly flavonoid-rich fruits-in mid-life and major depressive disorder (MDD) in later life. They also evaluated the association of nutrients in fruits and vegetables with major depressive disorder. Vegetable and fruit consumption and nutrient intake for 1204 individuals were averaged from data obtained in 1995 and 2000. major depressive disorder was diagnosed by certified psychiatrists in 2014–2015. Logistic regression was used to examine the odds of major depressive disorder according to quintile of vegetable and fruit consumption and quartile of nutrient intake.

The results of the study are:

• They fitted two regression models, using hierarchical adjustment for age, sex, employment status, alcohol consumption, current smoking, and physical activity.
• Bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrap confidence intervals were used to obtain accurate information. In fully adjusted models, the highest quintile of total fruit consumption excluding juice and flavonoid-rich fruit consumption showed decreased odds of major depressive disorder compared with the lowest quintile
• No significant association was found for total vegetables and fruits, total vegetables, or total fruits. No significant association was found for any nutrient.

Thus, this study provides novel information on the association between major depressive disorder and flavonoid-rich fruits.

Reference:

Narita Z, Nozaki S, Shikimoto R, et al. Association between vegetable, fruit, and flavonoid-rich fruit consumption in midlife and major depressive disorder in later life: the JPHC Saku Mental Health Study. Translational Psychiatry 2022; doi.org/10.1038/s41398-022-02166-8.

Keywords:

Translational Psychiatry, Narita Z, Nozaki S, Shikimoto R, vegetable, fruit, and flavonoid-rich fruit consumption, major depressive disorder, later life