Saúde mental e consumo adequado de frutas verduras e legumes em adultos de um município de médio porte do sul do Brasil

Abstract

Objective: To assess the association between mental health with adequate fruits and vegetables consumption. Method: This is a population based cross-sectional with a representative sample of 1,100 adult subjects living in the urban area of a medium size city in Souther Brazil. The adequate fruits and vegetables ́ intake was evaluated through two questions: one asking the quantity of fruit or fresh natural juice ingested on a daily basis; the other asking the number of soup spoons of vegetables consumed in a day. It was considered as an adequate intake the ingestion of three or more portions of fruit and of five or more soup spoons of vegetables. The main exposures were self-reported nervousness/stress and minor psychiatric disorders (MPD). In order to provide an estimation of the unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) Poisson regression was used. Potential confounding factors were demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral. Results: When the full sample was analyzed, a significant association between the nervousness/stress self-awareness and minor psychiatric disturbances was found. After controlling for the confounding factors, adults reporting absence were 2 times more likely to have the appropriate daily fruits and vegetables intake than those reporting presence of stressfull/nervous estates (PR=1,99; CI95% 1,17-3,37; p=0,010). In the same way, subjects not reporting mental disorders had a prevalence of adequate intake FVL 52% higher compared to those who had MPD (PR=1,52; CI95% 1,10-2,10; p=0,016). When stratified by gender, this effect was kept and increased in women. However, it lost its effect and statistical significance among men. Conclusion: The results suggests that the mental health may have an important role in the adequate intake of fruits and vegetables, especially among women.