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Table 3 Nutritional and health outcomes associated with comprehensive food subsidy program for non-pregnant adults

From: Food subsidy programs and the health and nutritional status of disadvantaged families in high income countries: a systematic review

First Author, Year Intervention, Participants

Nutritional outcomes

Health outcomes

Ni Mhurchu 2010[30]

Food purchases*

 

12.5% discount on healthier foods at point-of-sale (PD)

Change in foods/nutrients at 6 months (PD- no PD)

 
 

Mean (95%CI)

PD

p

 
 

Foods, kg/week

   

or tailored nutrition education (NE) or both compared to no intervention

All foods

0.90 (0.29-1.52)

0.004

 
 

All healthier

0.79 (0.43-1.16)

<0.001

 
 

All less healthy

0.07 (−0.15-0.29)

0.56

 

Main household shoppers >18 years

Healthier F&V

0.48 (0.21-0.75)

<0.001

 
 

Healthier meat

0.06 (0.02-0.11)

<0.001

 
 

Healthier dairy

0.21 (0.10-0.31)

<0.001

 
 

No change was noted in intake of saturated fat (primary outcome), energy density or any other macronutrients

 
 

There were no effects of tailored nutrition education on food purchases at 6 months.

 
 

Change in foods/nutrients at 12 months (PD- no PD)**

 
 

Mean (95%CI)

PD

p

 
 

Foods, kg/week

   
 

All foods

0.37 (−0.26-1.00)

0.25

 
 

All healthier

0.38 (0.01-0.76)

0.045

 
 

All less-healthy

0.05 (−0.18-0.27)

0.67

 
 

Healthier F&V

0.28 (0.00-0.56)

0.05

 
 

Healthier meat

0.03 (−0.01-0.08)

0.15

 
 

Healthier dairy

0.06 (−0.04-0.18)

0.21

 
  1. *Adjusted for baseline values, ethnicity, income, age, sex.
  2. **The 12 month follow-up was 6 months after intervention ended.