title: Combined association of leisure-time physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption with depressive symptoms in older Taiwanese: Results of a national cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the independent and combined associations of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and fruit and vegetable consumption with subsequent new depressive symptoms in Taiwanese aged ≥53 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the 1999 and 2003 datasets of the Taiwan Longitudinal Survey on Aging and used the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (score 0-30) to rate depressive symptoms. We excluded those who had depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale ≥10) at baseline, and carried out logistic regression analysis to determine the associations of LTPA and fruit and vegetable consumption, independently or in combination, with new depressive symptoms 4 years later (n = 2630).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Independently, high LTPA was associated with reduced new depressive symptoms (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.57-0.99); higher fruit and vegetable consumption showed the same trend, but was not significant. Combining high fruit (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.41-0.89), vegetable (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26-0.93) or fruit and vegetable (OR 0.39, 95% CI 0.20-0.77) consumption with high LTPA all further reduced the likelihood of developing subsequent new depressive symptoms beyond LPTA alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The simultaneous presence of several good lifestyle habits increases the beneficial effect of reducing the risk of developing depressive symptoms in older adults. Thus, older adults are encouraged to have as many good lifestyle habits as possible to reduce the risk of depressive symptoms.
authors: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Shu-Huang
authors: SH
authors: Chi
authors: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Center for Health Policy and Management Research, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Jiun-Yi
authors: JY
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.|Department of Health Services Management, School of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Alan C
authors: AC
authors: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan; D014675:Vegetables
keywords: combined effect; depressive symptoms; fruit; leisure-time physical activity; vegetables