Research Paper Title

Fruit and vegetables intake in adolescents and mental health: a systematic review.

Background

The proper nutrition is indicated as a factor of a potential importance for the mental health early in life span, and among the potential products, which may influence, there are fruit and vegetables.

Therefore the purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the observational studies analysing the association between the fruit and vegetables intake and the mental health in adolescents.

Methods

On the basis of PubMed and Web of Science databases, the papers presenting human studies and published in English until June 2019, analysing the association between intake of fruit and/ or vegetables, as well as related products (e.g. juices) and the mental health were included to the systematic review, while they analysed a group of adolescents.

Results

Based on the conducted systematic review, 17 studies were indicated as those which assess the influence of fruit and vegetables intake on the mental health in adolescents. For the assessment of mental health, diverse variables were taken into account, including positive (happiness, self-esteem), neutral (health-related quality of life, mental health status), and negative ones (loneliness, general difficulties, feeling worried, anxiety, stress and distress, depressive symptoms, depression, suicidal behaviours).

Conclusions

Based on the conducted systematic review of observational studies, it may be indicated that in a groups of adolescents there was a positive association between intake of fruit and vegetable products and mental health.

Especially beneficial for general mental health in adolescents, were such products as green vegetables, yellow vegetables and fresh fruit.

Reference

Glabska, D., Guzek, D., Groele, B. & Gutkowska, K. (2020) Fruit and vegetables intake in adolescents and mental health: a systematic review. Roxzniki Pantstwowego Zakladu Higieny. 71(1), pp.15-25. doi: 10.32394/rpzh.2019.0097.