Fruit and vegetable intake and mental health among family caregivers of people with dementia in Uganda
Consumption of fruits and vegetables is correlated with improved mental wellbeing. Although this growing body of research has been recognized by researchers and clinicians in high-income countries, fewer studies examining this relationship have been conducted in low- and middle-income settings. In...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Published: |
Elsevier GmbH
2022
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12493/548 |
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| Summary: | Consumption of fruits and vegetables is correlated with improved mental wellbeing. Although this growing body
of research has been recognized by researchers and clinicians in high-income countries, fewer studies examining
this relationship have been conducted in low- and middle-income settings. In this study, we sought to estimate
the association between fruit and vegetable intake and symptoms of depression and anxiety. We conducted a
cross-sectional study among 242 family caregivers of people with dementia in southwestern Uganda. Fruit and
vegetable intake in the past week was measured with a food frequency questionnaire. Depression and anxiety
were assessed using the depression and anxiety subscales of the 42-item Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales.
Multivariable regression models were used to estimate the associations between fruits and vegetable consumption
and depression and anxiety, adjusting for caregiving burden and other potential confounders.
Depression symptom severity was negatively associated with consumption of jackfruits (b =-4.68; 95% confidence
interval [CI], -8.96 to -0.39), green leafy vegetables (b =-14.1; 95% CI, -18.0 to -10.1), root vegetables (b
=-14.0; 95% CI, -19.5 to -8.63), and other vegetables (b =-14.8; 95% CI, -19.3 to -10.3), and frequent consumption
of vegetables (b =-1.91; 95% CI, -3.77 to -0.04). Anxiety symptom severity was negatively associated
with consumption of green leafy vegetables (b =-12.2; 95% CI, -16.0 to -8.46), root vegetables (b=-12.6; 95% CI,
-17.5 to -7.58), and other vegetables (b =-12.7; 95% CI, -17.0 to -8.40), and frequent consumption of vegetables
(b =-2.07; 95% CI, -3.84 to -0.29). Our results suggest that fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with
reduced depression and anxiety symptoms. |
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