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The effect of food is medicine interventions on diabetes-related health outcomes among low-income and food-insecure individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Gao Y, Yang A, Zurbau A, Gucciardi E
Can J Diabetes

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to review the current evidence of Food is Medicine interventions on diabetes outcomes among low-income or food-insecure individuals. METHODS: Seven databases were searched from January 1, 2000 to October 26, 2021 for full-text articles written in English. The studies included experimental studies of any duration and design which addressed the effect of Food is Medicine interventions on fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake and glycated hemoglobin (A1C) levels among low-income or food-insecure populations with prediabetes or diabetes of any age group. Only direction of effect of interventions on F&V intake were ascertained due to high variability in outcome measurement. A1C results were pooled using generic inverse variance with a fixed-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran's Q and quantified by I(2). RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included. Five of the 8 studies reported a significant increase in F&V intake. Seven of the 14 studies reported a significant decrease in A1C levels. A meta-analysis of 5 randomized controlled trials (n=843) resulted in clinically meaningful reductions in A1C compared with control (mean difference, -0.47%; 95% confidence interval, -0.66 to -0.29, I(2)=88%, p<0.0001). Half (n=8) of the studies have a high risk of bias due to missing data, detection bias, and confounding. CONCLUSIONS: Food is Medicine interventions are effective in increasing F&V intake and reducing A1C levels of the target population. More randomized controlled studies are needed to validate the results.

Gao Y, Yang A, Zurbau A, Gucciardi E. The effect of food is medicine interventions on diabetes-related health outcomes among low-income and food-insecure individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Can J Diabetes. 2023;47(2):143-152. DOI:10.1016/j.jcjd.2022.11.001. PMID: 36470724

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Publication year
Resource type
Peer Reviewed Research
Outcomes
Health & Health Behaviors
Social Determinant of Health
Food/Hunger
Study design
Review