Objectives. To expand the understanding of potential pathways through which food insecurity is associated with adverse...

 

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Objectives. To expand the understanding of potential pathways through which food insecurity is associated with adverse health outcomes, we investigated whether food insecurity is associated with nutritional levels, inflammatory response, and altered immune function. Methods. We performed an analysis of 12 191 participants. We assessed food insecurity using the US Department of Agriculture food security scale module and, at the same time, measured clinical biomarkers from blood samples obtained during participants' visits to mobile examination centers. Results. Of the study population, 21.5% was food insecure. Food insecurity was associated with higher levels of C-reactive protein (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04, 1.40) and of white blood cell count (AOR = 1.36; 95% CI=1.11, 1.67). Conclusions. These findings show that food insecurity is associated with increased inflammation, a correlate of chronic diseases. a. What is the study design? b. What is the main exposure? What is the prevalence of this exposure in the study population? c. What are the measures of association reported here? Why is more than one reported? d. Should a next step for this research include a randomized control trial? Explain. Objectives. To expand the understanding of potential pathways through which food insecurity is associated with adverse health outcomes, we investigated whether food insecurity is associated with nutritional levels, inflammatory response, and altered immune function. Methods. We performed an analysis of 12 191 participants. We assessed food insecurity using the US Department of Agriculture food security scale module and, at the same time, measured clinical biomarkers from blood samples obtained during participants' visits to mobile examination centers. Results. Of the study population, 21.5% was food insecure. Food insecurity was associated with higher levels of C-reactive protein (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04, 1.40) and of white blood cell count (AOR = 1.36; 95% CI=1.11, 1.67). Conclusions. These findings show that food insecurity is associated with increased inflammation, a correlate of chronic diseases. a. What is the study design? b. What is the main exposure? What is the prevalence of this exposure in the study population? c. What are the measures of association reported here? Why is more than one reported? d. Should a next step for this research include a randomized control trial? Explain.

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a The study design is a cross sectional analysis of 12 191 participants The participants were assess... View the full answer