Fruit and vegetable intake is inversely associated with perceived stress across the adult lifespan

Simone Radavelli-Bagatini; Lauren C Blekkenhorst; Marc Sim; Richard L Prince; Nicola P Bondonno; Catherine P Bondonno; Richard Woodman; Reindolf Anokye; James Dimmock; Ben Jackson; Leesa Costello; Amanda Devine; Mandy J Stanley; Joanne M Dickson; Dianna J Magliano; Jonathan E Shaw; Robin M Daly; Jonathan M Hodgson; Joshua R Lewis

doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2021.03.043

Fruit and vegetable intake is inversely associated with perceived stress across the adult lifespan

Clin Nutr. 2021 May;40(5):2860-2867. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.03.043. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

Authors

Simone Radavelli-Bagatini¹, Lauren C Blekkenhorst², Marc Sim², Richard L Prince³, Nicola P Bondonno⁴, Catherine P Bondonno², Richard Woodman⁵, Reindolf Anokye⁴, James Dimmock⁶, Ben Jackson⁷, Leesa Costello⁸, Amanda Devine⁴, Mandy J Stanley⁸, Joanne M Dickson⁹, Dianna J Magliano¹⁰, Jonathan E Shaw¹¹, Robin M Daly¹², Jonathan M Hodgson², Joshua R Lewis¹³

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Nutrition Research, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia. Electronic address: s.radavellibagatini@ecu.edu.au.
² Institute for Nutrition Research, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia; Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
³ Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
⁴ Institute for Nutrition Research, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.
⁵ Flinders Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
⁶ Department of Psychology, College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, QLD, Australia.
⁷ School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
⁸ School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.
⁹ School of Arts and Humanities (Psychology), Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia.
¹⁰ Diabetes and Population Health, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
¹¹ Clinical Diabetes and Epidemiology, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
¹² Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Science, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.
¹³ Institute for Nutrition Research, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia; Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; Centre for Kidney Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, School of Public Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 33940399
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2021.03.043

Abstract

Background & aims: Poor nutritional habits are linked to higher perceived stress, but the relationship between fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and stress is uncertain. The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between FV intake and perceived stress in a population-based cohort of men and women aged ≥25 years from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) Study. A secondary aim was to investigate the relationship between serum carotenoids, biomarkers of FV intake, and perceived stress.

Methods: In Australian men and women, dietary intake was assessed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire in 1999-2000 (n = 8689). Perceived stress was assessed using a validated Perceived Stress Questionnaire [PSQ index values ranging from 0 (lowest) to 1 (highest)]. Serum carotenoids were measured in a subset of participants (n = 1187) using high-performance liquid chromatography. Multivariable-adjusted linear and logistic regression were performed to investigate the associations between FV intake and perceived stress.

Results: Mean age of participants was 47.4 (SD 14.1) years (49.8% females). Participants with the highest intakes of FV had 10% lower PSQ index values than those with the lowest intake [Q4: 0.27 ± 0.004 vs. Q1: 0.30 ± 0.004 (mean ± SE), p = 0.004]. Similar associations were found for fruits and vegetables, analysed separately. In subgroup analyses higher FV intake was associated with lower perceived stress in the middle-aged adults [≥45-<65 years (p = 0.004)], but not in the younger (<45 years) and older participants (≥65 years). Higher FV intake was also significantly associated with lower perceived stress in men (p = 0.009) and women (p = 0.012), separately. Serum carotenoid levels were inversely associated with perceived stress before, but not after adjusting for age and other confounding factors.

Conclusion: In Australian adults, higher FV intake was associated with lower perceived stress, particularly in the middle-aged adults. These findings support current recommendations that fruit and vegetables are essential for health and well-being.

Keywords: AusDiab; Australian adults; Fruit and vegetable intake; Healthy lifestyle; Perceived stress; Public health messages.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biomarkers / blood
Carotenoids / blood*
Diet*
Female
Fruit*
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Stress, Physiological*
Vegetables*

Substances

Biomarkers
Carotenoids