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        Dietary intake, nutritional status and mental wellbeing of homeless adults in Reading, UK

        Author
        Fallaize, Rosalind
        Seale, Josephine
        Mortin, Charlotte
        Armstrong, Lisha
        Lovegrove, Julie A
        Attention
        2299/20640
        Abstract
        Malnutrition has been reported in the homeless, yet the specific nutritional issues faced by each homeless community are unclear. This is in part due to nutrient intake often being compared to dietary reference values as opposed to a comparative housed population. Additionally, the complex interplay between nutrient intake, reward mediated behaviour and mental illness is frequently overlooked. This study aimed to compare the dietary intake, nutritional status and mental wellbeing of homeless and housed adults. Homeless (n=75) and matched housed (n=75) adults were recruited from Reading (UK). Nutrient intake was determined using the EPIC Norfolk Food Frequency Questionnaire. The Patient Health Questionnaire: Somatic Anxiety Depressive Symptoms (PHQ-SADS) assessed for signs of mental illness. Demographic, behavioural and physiological information was collected using closed-ended questions and anthropometric measurements. Overall, dietary intake was poorer in homeless adults who reported higher intakes of salt (8.0g vs. 6.4g, P=0.017), SFA (14.6% vs. 13.0%, P=0.002) and alcohol (5.3% vs. 1.9%, P<0.001) and lower intakes of fibre (13.4g vs. 16.3g, P<0.001), vitamin C (79mg vs. 109mg, P<0.001) and fruit (96g vs. 260g, P<0.001) than housed. Smoking, substance misuse and PHQ-SADS scores were also higher in the homeless (P<0.001). Within the homeless population, street-homeless (n=24) had lower SFA (13.7% vs.15.0%, P=0.010), calcium (858mg vs. 1032mg, P=0.027) and milk intakes (295g vs. 449g, P=0.001) than hostel residents (n=51), which may reflect the issues with food storage. This study highlights the disparity between nutritional status in homeless and housed populations and the need for dietary intervention in the homeless community.
        Publication date
        2017-11-29
        Published in
        British Journal of Nutrition
        Published version
        https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114517002495
        Other links
        http://hdl.handle.net/2299/20640
        Relations
        School of Life and Medical Sciences
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