Insights & Discussion
Eating two gold kiwifruit daily can lead to significant improvements in mood and energy, thereby boosting psychological well-being in adults.
The study conducted a literature review through databases like CINAHL, Embase, and PubMed, searching for English language articles published from 2005 to July 2022. These articles had to be randomized trials involving kiwifruit interventions targeting adults and assessing psychological well-being. The researchers used the Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool to evaluate potential bias in these trials. After the search, they selected two suitable trials involving 202 participants.
In discussing the results, the evidence found shows that regularly consuming two gold kiwifruits daily was linked with a significant decrease in mood disturbance and fatigue, and a significant increase in vigor and overall well-being. These effects were more pronounced in participants who had more significant initial mood disturbances. The study concluded by underlining the potential utility of consuming gold kiwifruit daily to promote improved psychological health.
Discover Related Insights
Consuming New Zealand green kiwifruit improves sleep quality, mood, and increases the concentration of serotonin metabolites.
2022 NSNZ 2021 Acute Evening Consumption of Green Kiwifruit in Young Men Enhances Waking Alertness, Mood and Increases 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid in Urine Kanon AP, Giezenaar C, Roy NC, McNabb WC, Henare SJ
Randomised Controlled Trial Kiwifruit Mood Serotonin
A total of 24 men, ranging in age and with varying sleep quality were selected for the study, in a single-blind crossover design, which was randomized. Participants were provided three treatments on separate occasions, each differing by 6-8 days: consumption of two fresh kiwifruits, ingesting green kiwifruit powder mixed with water equivalent to two fresh kiwifruits, or a simple water control.
Poor sleepers noted that they woke up more easily after consuming dried kiwifruit, with a similar but less pronounced trend observed when they consumed fresh kiwifruit. Conversely, good sleepers showed a trend towards better sleep initiation with fresh kiwifruit, but not with the dried kiwifruit. Independent of the participants' sleep quality, both fresh and dried kiwifruit largely improved mood and self-esteem. Consumption of dried kiwifruit significantly elevated morning alertness, post-wakening behaviour, and vigour. Both forms of kiwifruit ingestion led to higher urinary concentrations of the serotonin metabolite known as 5-HIAA.
Consuming two kiwifruits daily can improve overall mood, particularly for individuals starting with moderate mood disturbance.
2013 Journal of Nutritional Science Mood improvement in young adult males following supplementation with gold kiwifruit, a high-vitamin C food Carr AC, Bozonet SM, Pullar JM, Vissers MCM
Clinical Study Depression Kiwifruit Vitamin C
The research study investigated the potential mood-enhancing effects of kiwifruit, involving a sample group of 35 young adult males who were supplemented with either half or two kiwifruits a day for 6 weeks. Through this observational period, their moods were evaluated with the use of Profile of Mood States questionnaires that were administered at the start and end of the intervention.
In the results discussion, it was noted that there was no observable effect on overall mood for the group that consumed half a kiwifruit daily. However, interestingly, for those who consumed two kiwifruits daily, there was a trend towards a decrease in total mood disturbance as well as depression. This was especially significant among participants with higher initial mood disturbance, showing decrease in mood disturbance and fatigue, and increase in vigour. This research also observed a significant increase in dietary vitamin C intake and corresponding plasma levels among the participants. There was no apparent effect of consuming two kiwifruits daily on the mood scores of participants with low initial mood disturbance.