Fruit and vegetable consumption frequency and mental health in Korean adolescents: Based on the 2014-2017 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Purpose: This study examined the association between fruit and vegetable intake and mental health in Korean adolescents. Methods: This study used the data from the 2014.2017 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a national cross-sectional survey on 137,101 boys and 130,806 girls aged 12.18. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed based on the frequency of consumption. The outcome variables were the perceived happiness, perceived stress, depressive symptom and suicidal ideation over the previous 12 months. Logistic regression models were used after adjusting for the demographic, life style and other dietary factors. Results: Only 34% and 29% of Korean adolescents consumed fruits more than 5 times/week and vegetables more than 2 times/day, respectively; whereas 37%, 25% and 12.2% of Korean adolescents had perceived stress, depressive symptom and suicidal ideation, respectively. After adjusting for the confounding variables, the greater consumption of fruit and vegetable were all associated with a higher odds of perceived happiness; the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) (95% CI) were 1.53 (1.46.1.60) in boys and 1.82 (1.73.1.90) in girls who consumed fruit . 5 times/week, and 1.65 (1.54.1.76) in boys and 1.62 (1.51.1.72) in girls who consumed vegetable . 2 times/day. In contrast, the consumption of fruit or vegetable were all significantly associated with a lower odds of perceived stress, depressive symptom, and suicidal ideation; the AOR (95% CI) were 0.70 (0.67.0.73), 0.88 (0.84.0.93), and 0.78 (0.73.0.83) in boys who consumed fruit 3.4 times/week, and 0.71 (0.67.0.76), 0.88 (0.81.0.94), and 0.68 (0.62.0.74) in boys who consumed vegetable 5.7 times/week. Similar associations of fruit or vegetable consumption with perceived stress, depressive symptom, or suicidal ideation were found in girls. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that increasing fruit and vegetable intake is important for better mental health among adolescents.