Association Between Food Insecurity and Nutritional Status of Indiana Food Pantry Users

Abstract

Food pantries may be used by the low-resource populations to aid maintenance of food security and dietary intake. Yet, the nutritional status of this group is not well characterized. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between food insecurity, Healthy Eating Index (HEI) total and component scores, nutrients and food group intake of adult Indiana pantry users (21-80 y, n = 285). Participants (≥ 21 y) were recruited from food pantries in eight rural and low income counties in Indiana and interviewed for characteristics, food security (US Household Food Security Survey Module), and dietary intake (Automated Self-Administered 24 Hour Recall, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD). Results from adjusted multiple linear regression models showed that food security was not associated with HEI total score (P = 0.94); however, food-secure adults had an estimated 262.9 mg higher Potassium (P = 0.04), 0.3 mg higher Riboflavin (P = 0.002), and 1.3 μg higher vitamin D (P = 0.01) intake, compared with food-insecure adults. Results from non-parametric analyses showed a higher HEI component score for greens and beans in food-secure adults than food-insecure adults (P = 0.02). The average intake of fiber, Calcium, Magnesium, Folate, vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin D did not meet the Estimated Average Requirement. The significant association between food insecurity and lower intake of Potassium, Riboflavin, and vitamin D along with dietary gaps for many other nutrients suggest that food pantries have potential to improve the nutritional status of these vulnerable groups through access to foods, nutrition education and other interventions.