Don’t Folate to Eat Vegetables

Author’s Note

Joy Zheng is an undergraduate in the class of 2026 studying psychology. One of her favorite things to do in her spare time is cooking and baking, bringing the concept of nutrition and macromolecules to the playing field. Initially, this piece was born in the University Writing Program 001 with Professor Monterrey and examined the relationship between junk food and a student’s academic performance. Joy has always been aware of how nutrition can play a huge role in a person’s daily life but wanted to pursue the concept of nutrition from a different angle: its impacts on academic achievement, specifically, through a mental and physical lense. The later topics of folate and eating right were added to provide a more well rounded story with the representation of two contrasting sides: a diet full of junk food vs. a diet full of fruits and vegetables. Through this piece, she hopes to further deepen people’s understanding in why eating right is so important towards our health and education, and ultimately towards our futures. 

Abstract 

Vitamin B₉ (folate) is naturally found in green leafy vegetables along with fruits such as oranges, lemons, bananas, or strawberries while the synthetic version, folic acid, is used as a dietary supplement. Folate is pivotal in the healthy development and maintenance of adolescent health. This vitamin contributes towards the formation of red blood cells, overall cell maintenance, and can reduce birth defects (neural tube defects) in a woman’s pregnancy. Folate deficiency has further been linked to elevated homocysteine levels which could increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and megaloblastic anemia - a blood disorder where abnormally large red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow (Hwang et al., 2018; National Academies Press, 1998; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). However, there is less research focusing on the effects of dietary behavior - specifically folate/folic intake - on psychiatric distress on a student in a higher educational level. Psychiatric distress was measured as feelings of unworthiness and depression. Within previous literature, folate has been suggested to aid in the intensity of depressive symptoms and in supporting cognitive functioning (Vogel et al., 2009). This preliminary study further observes the relationship of diet - specifically junk food - with physical and mental health and its effects on an undergraduate student’s mental wellbeing. Within this study, The findings in this paper can be utilized by students, faculty, and staff at higher educational institutions when considering aspects of nontraditional sources that could affect their psychological psyche. Although these findings are preliminary, it offers a stepping stone for additional research on the effects of junk food and folate on psychiatric distress. 

Introduction 

Over the past few decades, fast-food has risen in popularity as a quick and inexpensive way for Americans to obtain a meal. Fast foods are characterized by a high fat, salt, or sugar content, providing little nutritional benefits. However, with the fast-food industry's aggressive climb on a global scale, health care professionals are observing an unprecedented plethora of health problems in adults, adolescents, and children such as obesity and mental health issues. Zahedi et al. (2014) surveyed 13,486 students ranging from the ages of 6 to 18 in Iran. The researchers measured self-reported occurrences of worthlessness, aggression, anxiety, insomnia, and confusion through two sets of questionnaires. The study’s data drew on a CASPIAN study (a school-based surveillance system) and the two sets of questionnaires originated from the Global School Health Survey. Researchers concluded a strong correlation between fast food and psychiatric distress with increased tendencies of violence among adolescents who reportedly had junk food weekly compared to those with seldom consumption. On the flip side, a meta-analysis conducted by Bender et al. (2017) examined the effects folate intake had on psychiatric distress. Folate is an essential vitamin found mainly in vegetables and fruits and plays a substantial role in the proper functioning of the human body and mind. Bender et al. reported that patients with depression were more likely to have folate deficiency compared to individuals without depression. So, how does a student’s diet affect their psychiatric health at UC Davis? 

Literature Review 

There is a strong correlation between the consumption of junk food and psychiatric distress (Girz et al., 2013; Zahedi et al., 2014). For example, Girz et al. (2013) followed 478 men and women from year one to year four at various universities across Canada. At six different time points - with data collected at the summer before college; November of freshman year; March freshman year; sophomore year; junior year; and senior year respectively - the researchers measured body mass index (BMI) according to a participant’s weight and height, and perception in eating attitudes through the Restraint Scale and Eating Disorders Inventory. Higher scores on the Restraint Scale indicated a greater level of restraint while the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) measured drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction and perfectionism. A higher score on the EDI suggested a greater intensity of negative eating perceptions. The intensity of depression was determined using the Center of Epidemiology Studies-Depression Scale with scores ranging from a scale of 0-60 (a score closer to 60 indicated more intense symptoms). They then compared participants' scores from year one to the end of year four. Throughout the study, 62.2%-65.5% of undergrads gained an average of 6.1 kg (13.5 lbs) with lower negative impacts on men compared to women. Women who reported weight gain at year four associated weight gain with negative eating attitudes and saw an increase in body dissatisfaction compared to women who lost weight. Students may perceive weight gain as an unnecessary outlet of stress which could inevitably result in unhealthy ways in managing weight and eating habits which could lead to an eating disorder (Girz et al., 2013).

In addition to the effects weight gain from junk food can have on eating perceptions, another study by Zahedi et al. (2014) investigated the association between junk food on adolescents' psychiatric distress and violent tendency in Iran. The study reported a significance between psychiatric distress and violent behaviors among those with increasing frequency of junk food intake. Zahedi et al. looked at whether students reported seldom, weekly, or daily consumption in four groups consisting of sweets, sweetened beverages, fast-food, and salty snacks. Adolescents who seldom consumed sweetened beverages or sweets weekly experienced fewer instances of feelings of worthlessness, aggression, anxiety, insomnia, or depression compared to their counterparts who consumed these groups more frequently. For example, 43% of adolescents who consumed sweets weekly experienced more physical fighting compared to 24% of students who reported seldom consumption. An additional 40% of weekly sweets consumers experienced bullying compared to 25% of seldom consumption of biscuits, cookies, cakes, chocolates, and candies (sweets groups) (Zahedi et al., 2014). Evidently, a student’s choice of nutrition impacts their mental health and state. 

Girz et al. (2013) and Zahedi et al. (2014) showed how the consumption of junk food can strongly influence increased psychiatric distress within individuals. On the other hand, does a healthy diet full of folic acid/folate from fruits and vegetables result in decreased instances of psychiatric distress? 

Folate is utilized by the body in many different ways. The vitamin is essential in the production of DNA and RNA, nucleotide and amino acid biosynthesis, the prevention of macrocytic anemia, and in metabolizing homocysteine (Hwang et al., 2018; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Furthermore, folic acid is necessary for proper functioning of the central nervous system and is suggested to have strong implications on mood (Zahedi et al., 2014). Decreased levels of folate have further been linked with depression. This is because folate is metabolized into S-adenosylmethionine, (which is involved in the production of “dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin” and tetrahydrobiopterin). The antioxidant Tetrahydrobiopterin is a co-factor that triggers the production of these neurotransmitters. Dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin trigger feelings of happiness and regulate mood (Bender et al., 2017). In a meta-analysis extending upon a study done a few years prior, Bender et al. (2017) examined forty-three studies and again saw a correlation between individuals who had low levels of folate and depression. They looked at 8,519 individuals with depression and 27,282 without depression and measured folate levels through the individual's red blood cell, serum folate, or through supplements of folic acid. They found that those who had depression had lower folate intake from fruits and vegetables and lower serum folate levels compared to those without depression. Folate affects not only the intensity of depressive symptoms but also has strong implications on cognitive functioning.

In a study by Vogel et al. (2009), the researchers looked at homocysteine, vitamin B₁₂, and folate levels and their correlation with cognitive function in a study with 857 subjects categorized as “demented subjects, cognitive impaired subjects, and healthy subjects.” The study reported that cognitively impaired subjects who were treated with folic acid supplements had an improvement in performance on the Randt Memory Test which assesses the level of memory deficits.

 Another study mentioned within the systemic review by Vogel et al. (2009) analyzed 818 individuals aged sixty years or older and saw an improvement in memory, information processing speed and sensori-motor speed within the population with increased levels of folic acid. Through Bender et al. (2017) and Vogel et al. (2009), it is clear that folate intake from fruits and vegetables plays a substantial role in preventing psychiatric distresses like depression and cognitive impairment. 

Methods 

The current study aims to observe the eating habits of university undergraduate students and in understanding how nutrition – specifically junk food – can affect academic performance and overall health. An online survey through Google Forms was administered to students within a University Writing Program class through Canvas inbox. The final administered survey consisted of nine questions with three being multiple choice items (ex. What is the frequency of your junk food consumption per week?), five following the Likert scale (with numerical values ranging the extent of agreement), and one open ended question. From the initial 24 requested participants, 13 responded. All the collected data from this survey was from UC Davis undergraduate students with 23.1% reporting being a student athlete, and 76.9% exercising more than three times a week. 69.2% of participants reported occasionally consuming junk food while 23.1% reported daily frequency of junk food. Google Forms provided the output in percentages of the data. 

Findings and Discussion 

Figure 1 illustrates that junk food can influence the motivation students have toward academics. Respondents were asked to rate the extent to which they agreed or disagreed to the following statement: “after consuming junk food, I feel unmotivated to study” with 1 being strongly disagree and 5 being strongly agreeing. 38.5% respondents reported feeling unmotivated to study following the consumption of junk food.

When asked to rate “after consuming junk food, I feel unmotivated to study”, 5/13 participants agreed.

Figure 1

When asked to rate “I feel tired after eating junk food”, 7/13 students agreed.

Figure 2

Figure 2, on the other hand, shows that students report being able to “feel” their meal both physically and mentally after eating junk food. When asked to rate the extent to which respondents agreed or disagreed with the statement: “I feel tired after eating junk food”, many students (N=7) agreed. Finally, ten students responded to the open ended question asking “What measurable, self reported physical effects do you feel after eating junk food (ex. bloating or indigestion)?” with ten mentioning feelings of “bloating” (N=6) to “gas[siness]” (N=2) (figure 3).

Respondents were asked what “self reported physical effects [they felt] after eating junk food” with a range of responses from bloating to stomach issues.

Figure 3

Results

According to the figures, there seems to be a correlation between the self-reported effects of junk food and academic achievement within the sample size. There is a lowered level of academic achievement as students reported feeling more unmotivated and tired with a range of physical symptoms ranging from bloating and gassiness to stomach issues following the consumption of junk food. With the poor nutrition content fast-food offers, adolescents may report feeling a “heaviness” and increased levels of lethargy. These effects could result in a weakened academic performance compared to peers who consume fast food less frequently. 

A limitation of this study is the number of participants. This sample sufficiently  represents the class population as participants had no prior knowledge of the questionnaire or preparation in completing the items and was a representative sample of the whole class. However, with the small sample size, the findings are not as accurate and cannot be generalized to everyone. Additionally, this survey did not go through a validation process which limits the validity of the nutritional studies and affects. Additional research could include a larger sampling size and investigate other factors like a lack of healthier nutritional options available or financial situation towards the impact of the consumption of junk on academic achievement of an undergraduate. 

Conclusion 

This study saw a correlation between a student's academic achievement and the consumption of junk food within the sample size population. There appears to be a weakened academic performance following the consumption of junk food as participants within this preliminary study reported increased feelings of unmotivation and lethargicness. In addition, previous studies have reported further negative effects with the consumption of junk food ranging from negative perceptions towards eating to psychiatric distress and violence (Girz et al., 2013; Zahedi et al., 2014). If eating a diet full of processed fats, sugar or salt has such an adverse effect, would a diet full of fruits and vegetables improve physical and mental health?

In Bender et al. (2017) study, the researchers have reported individuals diagnosed with depression had lower folate levels compared to adults without depression. Folate was found to be critical towards the production of dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin which all contribute to the regulation of mood. Similarly, Vogel et al. (2009) have reported elderly people saw an improvement on the Randt Memory Test (a test assessing memory deficits) and info processing speeds following the treatment of folic acid. Further research could include examining folate consumption in the undergraduate college population and the possible effects folate has on mood and academic performance. Evidently, diet plays a fundamental role in the mental, physical, and emotional health of an adolescent. 

Educational committees and parents can utilize these findings to implement healthier, folate-rich options at universities. Students will likely see an improvement in their academic performance and decreased occurrences of psychiatric distress and depression. With so little research circulating on the effects of folate/folic acid on psychiatric distress, additional research needs to be conducted in order to evaluate folate/folic acid as a possible and readily accessible option towards the improvement of mental health.

References

Bender, A., Hagan, K. E., & Kingston, N. (2017). The association of folate and depression: A meta-analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 95, 9–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.07.019

Girz, L., Polivy, J., Provencher, V., Wintre, M. G., Pratt, M. W., Pancer, S. M., Birnie-Lefcovitch, S., & Adams, G. R. (2013). The four undergraduate years. Changes in weight, eating attitudes, and depression. Appetite, 69, 145–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2013.06.002

Hwang, S. Y., Kang, Y. J., Sung, B., Jang, J. Y., Hwang, N. L., Oh, H. J., Ahn, Y. R., Kim, H. J., Shin, J. H., Yoo, M. A., Kim, C. M., Chung, H. Y., & Kim, N. D. (2018). Folic acid is necessary for proliferation and differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. Journal of Cellular Physiology, 233(2), 736-747. 

https://doi.org/10.1002/jcp.25989

Institute of Medicine (US) Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes and its Panel on Folate, Other B Vitamins, and Choline. (1998). Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. National Academies Press (US).

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK114318/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of dietary supplements - Folate. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/ 

Vogel, T., Dali-Youcef, N., Kaltenbach, G., & Andrès, E. (2009). Homocysteine, vitamin B₁₂, folate and cognitive functions: a systematic and critical review of the literature. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 63(7), 1061–1067. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-1241.2009.02026.x

Zahedi, H., Kelishadi, R., Heshmat, R., Motlagh, M. E., Ranjbar, S. H., Ardalan, G., Payab, M., Chinian, M., Asayesh, H., Larijani, B., & Qorbani, M. (2014). Association between junk food consumption and mental health in a national sample of Iranian children and adolescents: The CASPIAN-IV study. Nutrition, 30 (11–12), 1391–1397. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2014.04.014