Initial Evidence of Variation by Ethnicity in the Relationship between Vitamin C Status and Mental States in Young Adults.

Higher fruit and vegetable intake has been associated with improved mood, greater vitality, and lower stress. Although the nutrients driving these benefits are not specifically identified, one potentially important micronutrient is vitamin C, an important co-factor for the production of peptide hormones, carnitine and neurotransmitters that are involved in regulation of physical energy and mood. The aim of our study was to investigate the cross-sectional relationship between blood plasma vitamin C status and mood, vitality and perceived stress. A sample of 419 university students (aged 18 to 35; 67.8% female) of various ethnicities (49.2% European, 16.2% East Asian, 8.1% Southeast/Other Asian, 9.1% Maori/Pasifika, 11.5% Other) provided a fasting blood sample to determine vitamin C status and completed psychological measures consisting of the Profile of Mood States Short Form (POMS-SF), the vitality subscale of the Rand 36-Item Short Form (SF-36), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Participants were screened for prescription medication, smoking history, vitamin C supplementation, fruit/juice and vegetable consumption, kiwifruit allergies, excessive alcohol consumption and serious health issues, and provided age, gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status information, which served as covariates. There were no significant associations between vitamin C status and the psychological measures for the sample overall. However, associations varied by ethnicity. Among Maori/Pasifika participants, higher vitamin C was associated with greater vitality and lower stress, whereas among Southeast Asian participants, higher vitamin C was associated with greater confusion on the POMS-SF subscale. These novel findings demonstrate potential ethnicity-linked differences in the relationship between vitamin C and mental states. Further research is required to determine whether genetic variation or cultural factors are driving these ethnicity differences.

Acceptance and commitment therapy for people with rheumatic disease: Existing evidence and future directions.

INTRODUCTION: Despite advances in the management of rheumatic diseases, many patients experience persistent pain and fatigue. Psychological interventions are useful adjunctive treatments, but improvements tend to be small, and progress in this area is needed. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for the treatment of chronic pain and fatigue in patients with rheumatic disease. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of ACT for the treatment of chronic pain and fatigue in patients with rheumatic disease. Ten RCTs that included people with rheumatic disease were identified, rated for risk of bias, and summarised in terms of effects on relevant outcomes (disability, emotional functioning, pain, and quality of life). RESULTS: Treatment with ACT was associated with improvements in physical and emotional functioning, pain, and quality of life in chronic pain patients. The favourable effects of ACT were evident when compared with those of treatment as usual or active control conditions (e.g., pain education and novel medication). There was consistent evidence to show that ACT is beneficial in improving physical and emotional functioning in patients with fibromyalgia but a lack of evidence pertaining to patients with other forms of rheumatic disease. CONCLUSION: ACT provides benefit for fibromyalgia patients. Further high-quality research is needed to develop ACT interventions for people with inflammatory rheumatic diseases and to evaluate their effectiveness for managing the pain and fatigue associated with these conditions.