Benjamin D. Fletcher, a faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the positive impact of kiwifruit consumption on people’s mental well-being. Kiwifruits, often called Chinese gooseberries, are edible berries from several species found in woody vines. They are rich in fiber, potassium, vitamin E, and notably high levels of vitamin C. Fletcher specifically found that eating kiwifruit led to improved mood for up to four days, particularly in adults with elevated vitamin C levels.

Collaborating with colleagues from New Zealand, he investigated how vitamin C from kiwifruits affected people's moods and how quickly these improvements occurred. Over two years, 167 adult participants in New Zealand were randomly assigned to one of three groups: receiving a placebo tablet, a vitamin C tablet, or consuming two SunGold kiwi fruits daily. The study focused on 155 participants who were screened for low blood plasma vitamin C levels. Randomization was carried out based on clinic visits to avoid exposure to other conditions. While participants were aware of the kiwifruit condition due to logistical constraints, blinding was maintained for tablet conditions. Assessments involved smartphone surveys every other day, measuring vitality, mood, sleep, and physical activity.

The results indicated that both kiwifruit and vitamin C interventions led to improved vitality and mood within four days, with day-to-day fluctuations observed. The study suggested that kiwifruit, as a whole-food source of vitamin C, may offer additional mental health benefits beyond vitamin C tablets alone. It underscored the potential of incorporating whole-food sources like kiwifruit into dietary strategies, as they may offer mental health benefits beyond those provided by vitamin C tablets alone. The observed fluctuations in day-to-day outcomes highlight the dynamic nature of mood-related changes, emphasizing the importance of considering temporal patterns in interventions and assessments. Additionally, a critical aspect of the research was the investigation of possible cultural and ethnic differences in responses to dietary interventions. Fletcher and his colleagues stated that the identified differences in sleep quality, physical activity, and ethnicity between conditions emphasize the need for future investigations in diverse populations. 

In conclusion, the study's robust design strengthened the findings despite acknowledging some limitations, such as reduced reliability resulting from using a few mood assessment items. These outcomes provide a strong basis for future investigations and the possible creation of specific dietary plans designed to support mental health. For adults who suffer from mental conditions, this sheds light on important insights into the rapid effects and unpredictable patterns of mood-related changes following kiwifruit and vitamin C interventions. 

#kiwi #kiwifruit #consumption #benefits #health 

Chloe Yu  (cyu2025@chadwickschool.org)