Usual Nutrient Intake of Older Adults in the U.S. Is Lower Among SNAP Participants Compared to Income-Eligible Non-Participants. (7th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Qin, Yue; Cowan, Alexandra; Bailey, Regan; Jun, Shinyoung; Eicher-Miller, Heather
• Is Part Of: Current developments in nutrition. Volume 5(2021)Supplement 2
• Page Start: 1084
• Page End: 1084
• Publication Date: 2021-06-07
• Subjects: Nutrition -- Periodicals; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Nutrition; Periodicals; Periodicals; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 612.3
• DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzab053_077
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2475-2991

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Policy proposals to limit use of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and to allow dietary supplement (DS) purchase with SNAP benefits draw attention to knowledge gap of usual nutrient intake and adherence to the Dietary Reference Intake recommendations from foods alone and with DS (total intake) among low-income older adults. To address this gap, the estimated distributions of usual nutrient intake (from foods alone and total) and risk of inadequate intake among U.S. older adults participating in SNAP were compared with income-eligible non-participants. Methods: Data from 4, 791 older adults (≥60 years) from the 2007–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used in this cross-sectional secondary analysis. DS data from an in-home inventory and dietary data from up to two 24-hour recalls were used to estimate usual nutrient intake distributions (total and from foods alone) and the proportion of the population below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) using an adapted National Cancer Institute method. Pairwise t-tests compared SNAP participants and eligible non-participants with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: SNAP participants had lower usual intake from foods alone compared to eligible non-participants for vitamins B6 ( P = 0.046) and E ( P = 0.027); the risk of inadequate intake was higher among SNAP participants compared to eligible non-participants for vitamin E ( P = 0.0004). Similarly, total usual nutrient intake was lower among SNAP participants compared to eligible non-participants for magnesium ( P = 0.019), zinc ( P = 0.0003), vitamin C ( P = 0.02) and vitamin D ( P = 0.0002) and the proportion not meeting the EAR was higher among SNAP participants compared to eligible non-participants for magnesium ( P = 0.044). Conclusions: Older adults participating SNAP had lower usual intake and meet the EAR less compared to eligible non-participants for certain nutrients. The proportion at risk of inadequate intake was lower when all nutrients sources were examined compared to foods alone. Future policies should focus on improving nutrient intake among food assistance participants and their food security. Funding Sources: Supported by University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research through funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Contract Number 12319819C0006.