Insights & Discussion
Consuming two kiwifruits daily can improve overall mood, particularly for individuals starting with moderate mood disturbance.
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.
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Eating two gold kiwifruit daily can lead to significant improvements in mood and energy, thereby boosting psychological well-being in adults.
2022 Nutrients The Role of Kiwifruit in Supporting Psychological Well-Being: A Rapid Review of the Literature Billows M, Kakoschke N, Zajac IT
Review Article Fatigue Kiwifruit Mood
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.
Acupuncture is associated with a reduction in the risk of depression during long-term follow-up in patients with trigeminal neuralgia.
2020 Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment Long-Term Beneficial Effects of Acupuncture with Reduced Risk of Depression Development Following Trigeminal Neuralgia: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study Liao CC, Lin CL, Liao KR, Li JM
Systematic Review Depression Trigeminal Neuralgia
In total, 776 patients with newly diagnosed trigeminal neuralgia in each cohort with similar baseline characteristics were enrolled in the study. The acupuncture cohort had a reduced risk of depression compared to the non-acupuncture cohort. Kaplan–Meier analysis also revealed that the cumulative incidence of depression was significantly lower in the acupuncture cohort during the 13-year follow-up period. In particular, the beneficial effect of acupuncture was a decrease in the risk of depression among TN patients aged 50– 69 years who had also used carbamazepine.
Evidence indicates that acupuncture treatment may be of benefit in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's Disease.
2019 Frontiers in Psychiatry The Effects of Acupuncture on Glutamatergic Neurotransmission in Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's Disease: A Review of the Literature Tu CH, MacDonald I, Chen YH
Review Article Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety Depression
The pathophysiology of these disorders may be associated with glutamate dysregulation, marked by a high rate of glutamate release and elevated expression of glutamate receptors and glutamate transporters in the CNS. The ability of acupuncture stimulation to modulate glutamate receptor and EAAT expression suggests that the treatment effects of acupuncture are underpinned by its intervention in the dysregulated glutamate system. Further preclinical and clinical studies are needed to clarify the possible mechanisms of acupuncture in these neuropsychiatric disorders and to establish protocols for treatment guidelines.
Consuming two SunGold kiwifruits daily over 12 weeks improved vitamin C status, reduced blood pressure, waist measurements and altered faecal microbiota composition in prediabetic individuals.
2018 Nutrients SunGold Kiwifruit Supplementation of Individuals with Prediabetes Alters Gut Microbiota and Improves Vitamin C Status, Anthropometric and Clinical Markers Wilson R, Willis J, Gearry R, Hughes A, Lawley B, Skidmore P, et al.
Randomised Controlled Trial Gut Microbiota High Blood Pressure Kiwifruit
Over a 12 week pilot intervention trial, people with prediabetes were observed after consuming two SunGold kiwifruits per day. Participants filled out a physical activity questionnaire and a three-day estimated food diary at both the commencement and end of the trial. Venous blood samples were collected at the start, in between (at 6 weeks) and at the end of the trial, to observe glycaemic indices, plasma vitamin C concentrations, hormones, lipid profiles and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. Additionally, participants provided faecal samples at each visit for DNA extraction and subsequent amplification and sequencing of a region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene to determine faecal microbiota composition.
The differences were then compared between week 12 and their baseline measurements revealing a significant increase in plasma vitamin C concentration. Further changes including significant reductions in both diastolic and systolic blood pressure as well as waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were recorded. Despite recording a slight drop in HbA1c levels and a minor increase in fasting glucose, the changes were small and not clinically significant. Moreover, the composition analysis of the faecal microbiota indicated an increase in the relative abundance of hitherto uncultivated, hence uncharacterised members of a particular bacterial family. These findings suggest that these unknown bacterial members could potentially have a functional relationship with the polysaccharides and polyphenols in kiwifruits.