Smartphone survey data reveal the timecourse of changes in mood outcomes following vitamin C or kiwifruit intervention in adults with low vitamin C

Abstract

Vitamin C-rich foods can improve mood; however, the timecourse of these benefits is unknown. This study utilised intensive longitudinal smartphone surveys from a three-armed placebo-controlled trial to determine mood-related changes following supplementation with vitamin C (250 mg tablet/d), kiwifruit (2 SunGold™ kiwifruit/d) or a placebo (1 tablet/d). Secondary data were analysed from the KiwiC for Vitality trial (Trial ID: ACTRN12617001031358). Adults (n 155, 63 % female, aged 18–35 years) with low plasma vitamin C (<40 μmol/l) completed a 14-d lead-in, 28-d intervention and 14-d washout. Participants self-reported vitality (SF-36), mood (POMS total mood disturbance), flourishing (flourishing scale), sleep quality, sleep quantity and physical activity every second day using smartphone surveys. Plasma vitamin C, measured fortnightly, reached saturation after 2 weeks of vitamin C or kiwifruit supplementation. Kiwifruit supplementation improved vitality and mood within 4 days, peaking around 14–16 days, and improved flourishing from day 14. Vitamin C marginally improved mood until day 12. Incremental AUC analyses revealed significant overall effects of kiwifruit consumption on vitality and mood compared with placebo, which were stronger than effects for vitamin C tablets, but attenuated when adjusting for covariates. Sensitivity analyses of participants with low baseline vitamin C status revealed improved mood (vitamin C and kiwifruit) and flourishing (kiwifruit only). This is the first study to use intensive smartphone surveys to model the day-to-day timecourse of mood-related states following vitamin C intervention and highlights the value of using smartphone surveys to reveal the temporal changes in mood-related outcomes following nutrient supplementation.