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Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mental Health in Adults: A Systematic Review
Głąbska D, Guzek D, Groele B, Gutkowska K.. Nutrients, 2020-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
The most prominent results indicated that high total intake of fruits and vegetables, and some of their specific subgroups including berries, citrus, and green leafy vegetables, may promote higher levels of optimism and self-efficacy, as well as reduce the level of psychological distress, ambiguity, and cancer fatalism, and protect against depressive symptoms. However, it must be indicated that the studies included were conducted using various methodologies and in different populations, so their results were not always sufficiently comparable, which is a limitation. Taken together, it can be concluded that fruits and/or vegetables, and some of their specific subgroups, as well as processed fruits and vegetables, seems to have a positive influence on mental health, as stated in the vast majority of the included studies.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: High
This is a pooled review of 5,911 participants. This systematic review found that high total intake of fruits and vegetables, and some specific subgroups including berries, citrus, and green leafy vegetables, may protect against depressive symptoms and improve aspects of mental health. The included studies used various methodologies and different populations, so their results were not always sufficiently comparable.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Głąbska, D., Guzek, D., Groele, B., & Gutkowska, K. (2020). Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mental Health in Adults: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010115
Vancouver
Głąbska D, Guzek D, Groele B, Gutkowska K. Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mental Health in Adults: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2020. doi:10.3390/nu12010115. PMID: 31906271.
BibTeX
@article{glabska2020-31906271,
author = {Głąbska, D. and Guzek, D. and Groele, B. and Gutkowska, K.},
title = {{Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Mental Health in Adults: A Systematic Review}},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.3390/nu12010115},
pmid = {31906271},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12010115}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- The most prominent results indicated that high total intake of fruits and vegetables, and some of their specific subgroups including berries, citrus, and green leafy vegetables, may promote higher levels of optimism and self-efficacy, as well as reduce the level of psychological distress, ambiguity, and cancer fatalism, and protect against depressive symptoms.
- However, it must be indicated that the studies included were conducted using various methodologies and in different populations, so their results were not always sufficiently comparable, which is a limitation.
- Taken together, it can be concluded that fruits and/or vegetables, and some of their specific subgroups, as well as processed fruits and vegetables, seems to have a positive influence on mental health, as stated in the vast majority of the included studies.
Why it matters
This systematic review found that high total intake of fruits and vegetables, and some specific subgroups including berries, citrus, and green leafy vegetables, may protect against depressive symptoms and improve aspects of mental health. The included studies used various methodologies and different populations, so their results were not always sufficiently comparable.
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Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Participants5,911
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 70/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Nutrients) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Nutrients: journal h-index 331 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 5,911 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomization is not credited here |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 412 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 51.5 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 10.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 208 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Krystyna Gutkowska: h-index 22 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Warsaw University of Life Sciences: institution h-index 245 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31906271) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 70 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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