A study in adult twins found that consuming higher amounts of fruit and vegetables was associated with a reduced risk of depression.* 

The study included 3,483 twins from 45 to 90 years old. The researchers used food-frequency questionnaires to assess the association between higher fruit and vegetable intake and depression risk over a period of 5-11 years. 

Compared to low intake, defined as less than half a serving per day, high intake of fruit and vegetables, about two servings per day (although that number still falls well below the recommended daily intake of at least five servings per day), was associated with a modest reduction in the risk of depression. 

The authors attributed the beneficial relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and depression as most likely due to "the high levels of dietary fiber, vitamins and micronutrients contained in fruit and vegetables." They added that, "The importance of the gut microbiome and its potential influence on depression via inflammation, both systemic and neuroinflammation, is becoming increasingly well understood."

Editor’s note: "Our previously published meta-analyses of four population-based studies of adults aged 45+ years found higher fruit intakes were associated with a 15% reduced odds of incident depression, and higher vegetable intakes with 9% reduced odds," the authors noted.

* Sci Rep. 2024 Nov 29;14(1):29711. 

Fish Oil Can Lower Triglycerides in People with Diabetes

A reduction in triglycerides was found among people with diabetes taking fish oil, which contains the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, compared with those given a placebo, according to a new clinical trial.*

The trial included 309 men and women with type II diabetes and high triglycerides. Participants were randomized to receive 4 grams fish oil or placebo for 12 weeks. At the end of the 12-week trial triglycerides decreased by an average of 21% in the fish oil group, while there was no significant difference in the placebo group.

Editor’s Note: "These findings have important implications for the development of personalized dietary interventions to effectively manage high triglycerides and related metabolic disorders," the authors stated.

* Med. 2025 Jan 10;6(1):100496.

Vitamin C Doubles Survival Time in Late-Stage Pancreatic Cancer Patients

High-dose, intravenous vitamin C, when added to conventional chemotherapy, doubled survival time in patients with late-stage, metastatic pancreatic cancer, a study published in Redox Biology reported.* 

In this phase 2 clinical trial, 34 people with pancreatic cancer were randomized into two groups. One group received standard chemotherapy alone and another group received the chemotherapy plus intravenous infusions of 75 grams of vitamin C three times per week. 

Those who received chemotherapy alone survived an average of eight months, while those who received chemotherapy plus intravenous vitamin C survived an average of 16 months–double the amount of time. 

Editor’s note: Adding high-dose vitamin C did not increase the frequency or severity of adverse events, the authors noted. Not all vitamin C studies show these remarkable results. 

* Redox Biol. 2024 Nov:77:103375. 

Lower Cost of Generic Drugs

A new business model for selling generic drugs could dramatically lower drug costs, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst.*

CivicaScript is a not-for-profit generic drugs supplier in the U.S. whose goal is to lower the cost of certain high-cost generic medications. CivicaScript’s proposed model contracts directly with manufacturers to produce generic drugs and sells them to pharmacies and health plans at a fixed cost-plus price. This model avoids middlemen and keeps markups low.

To test the effectiveness of this model, researchers evaluated the cost of abiraterone acetate, a generic drug used to treat metastatic prostate cancer. They compared payments between CivicaScript and other manufacturers over a four-month period.

The results showed that CivicaScript was able to provide this drug at a price that was 64% lower for patients (saving them around $81 per month) and 95% lower for 14 insurers (saving the health plans an average of $1,796 per patient per month).

Abiraterone acetate generally costs thousands of dollars per month per patient. CivicaScript was able to provide a one-month’s supply (120 250-mg tablets) for $171. This price is slightly above wholesale in order to cover pharmacy dispensing fees.

Editor’s note: "These data show that when you align the interests of patients, healthcare institutions and society, there is great potential to create a more equitable, cost-effective healthcare system," said report co-author Carter Dredge.

* NEJM Catalyst. 2025;6(6):CAT.24.0417.