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The objective of this study was to examine the association between fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) and mental health disorders.

This study used data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), a repeated cross-sectional study of Canadians with five waves between 2000 until 2009 (n=296,121 aged 12years or older). FVI was assessed based on frequency of consumption. The primary outcome was a major depressive episode over the previous 12months. Logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, household income, education, physical activity, chronic illness and smoking.

In the first wave, greater FVI was significantly associated with lower odds of depression (OR: 0.85 95% CI:0.78–0.92). A combined estimate of all 5 waves demonstrated similar results (OR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.71–0.75). Relative to those with the lowest FVI, those with the greatest FVI also had …