Usual Nutrient Intake of Older Adults in the U.S. Is Lower Among SNAP Participants Compared to Income-Eligible Non-Participants

Abstract

ObjectivesPolicy 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. MethodsData 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. ResultsSNAP 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). ConclusionsOlder 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 SourcesSupported by University of Kentucky Center for Poverty Research through funding by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Contract Number 12319819C0006.