Daily fruit juice or smoothie may lower depression scores when paired with fruits and vegetables: study

While often cautioned against due to high sugar content, consuming one glass of 100% fruit juice or a smoothie daily might be associated with reduced feelings of depression, according to a study from Newcastle University in the UK. The research suggests that when combined with an increased intake of fruits and vegetables, these beverages could offer potential mental health benefits.

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Fruit and vegetable intake could be meaningfully changed when people who ate little of them received economic and educational support.

The study involved 42 adults who consumed fewer than two servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Over four weeks, participants were divided into three groups: one maintained their usual diet, another increased fruit and vegetable intake to meet the UK's recommended five servings a day, and a third group also increased fruit and vegetable consumption but included one serving of 100% fruit juice or a smoothie daily.

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A simple and cost-effective method like a glass of 100% fruit juice or a smoothie could help meet daily fruit and vegetable intake goals and potentially offer mental health benefits.

Results showed that the groups increasing their fruit and vegetable intake saw improvements. Notably, the group that included a daily juice or smoothie exhibited a statistically significant decrease in depression symptom scores, as measured by the PHQ-9 questionnaire, compared to the control group. While the group consuming only whole fruits and vegetables also showed a reduction in scores, it did not reach statistical significance.

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The result of lower depression symptom scores in the group that drank fruit juice is promising and requires further research.

Researchers noted that no negative changes in metabolic health indicators were observed during the four-week study, and fiber intake increased. However, they stressed that these findings are preliminary. The study's small sample size and short duration mean that long-term effects remain unknown. Furthermore, the observed effect was on depression symptom scores, not a diagnosis of depression itself. The study was funded by the Fruit Juice Science Centre, though the organization reportedly had no influence on the research process.

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It is worth exploring further, especially with individuals experiencing poor mental health.