Vegetable Intake Linked to Reduced Stress in Pregnant Women with Chronic Diseases

Strategic Insights -

Research from the University of Hong Kong suggests that consuming a vegetable-rich diet can benefit the mental health of pregnant women with chronic diseases by potentially reducing inflammation during pregnancy. The study found that women with chronic diseases who consumed higher levels of vegetables experienced lower stress levels compared to those without chronic conditions. Furthermore, the study discovered a significant interaction between vegetable intake and chronic disease history in modulating interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels, a protein that helps regulate inflammation.

Key Takeaways:

  • Women with chronic diseases are susceptible to inflammation and stress during pregnancy, and dietary factors such as vegetable consumption can influence the level of inflammation markers in the body.
  • The study recruited 239 pregnant women from antenatal clinics and used an electronic food frequency questionnaire to survey their vegetable intake.
  • Pregnant women with chronic diseases demonstrated elevated stress levels and decreased IL-10 levels compared to those without chronic conditions.
  • Consuming vegetables was positively associated with IL-10 levels in women with chronic diseases, while this association was not observed in women without chronic conditions.
  • Women with chronic diseases who consumed high levels of vegetables experienced lower stress levels than those without (B = -0.43; Boot SE = 0.28; LLCI = -1.06; ULCI = -0.01).
  • The study suggests that a vegetable-rich diet can benefit the mental health of pregnant women with chronic diseases by potentially reducing inflammation during pregnancy.

Statistics:

  • 239 pregnant women were recruited for the study.
  • 49% of the participants had chronic diseases.
  • The study found a significant interaction between vegetable intake and chronic disease history in modulating IL-10 levels (B = 0.09, p = 0.007).
  • Consuming high levels of vegetables was associated with lower stress levels in women with chronic diseases (B = -0.43).
  • IL-10 levels were measured in plasma samples, which were collected at enrollment.

Sources:

  • Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health, 2025;49:101106.
  • University of Hong Kong, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China.
  • Keith T. S. Tung, Rosa S. Wong, Patrick Ip. Vegetable intake is associated with lower psychological stress via increased anti-inflammatory responses in pregnant women with chronic diseases. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health, 2025;49:101106.