Diet quality, nutritional status and taste recognition are impaired in men with substance use disorder

• Published in: Nutrition bulletin 2024-03, Vol.49 (1), p.40-51
• Main Authors: Urhan, Murat, Gezmen Karadağ, Makbule
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body mass index; Cocaine; Diet; diet quality; Drug abuse; Drug addiction; Drug use; Food consumption; Heroin; Malnutrition; Medical treatment; Nutritional status; Salty taste; Sour taste; Substance abuse treatment; Substance use; Substance use disorder; Sweet taste; Taste; taste perception; Taste thresholds; Umami
• ISSN: 1471-9827; 1467-3010
• DOI: 10.1111/nbu.12654

This study aimed to (1) evaluate the nutritional status, prevalence of malnutrition and dietary habits in individuals using substances and (2) examine the possible effects of substance use on the perception of five basic tastes. Ninety male individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) (heroin = 78, cocaine = 12) and 32 non‐users participated in the study conducted at Manisa Alcohol and Substance Addiction Treatment Center (AMATEM), Turkey. To determine the quality of the diet, the mean nutrient adequacy ratio (MAR) was calculated based on 24‐h recall food consumption records of the individuals. Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) was employed to determine nutritional status, and anthropometric measurements were also taken from the individuals. The taste detection and recognition thresholds were determined with solutions with different concentrations for bitter, sour, sweet, umami and salty tastes and scored, with higher scores indicating lower thresholds. Mild–moderate malnutrition was determined in 50% of the individuals with SUD based on SGA. The body mass index (BMI) of individuals with SUD was found to be 21.2 ± 1.88 kg/m2, and 24.1 ± 1.64 kg/m2 for non‐users (p