Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-ttngx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-14T03:49:20.868Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
Accepted manuscript

A Systematic Review of the effect of Dietary and Nutritional Interventions on the Behaviours and Mental Health of Prisoners

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 April 2024

Matthew Poulter*
Affiliation:
Centre for Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom, OX3 0BP
Shelly Coe
Affiliation:
Centre for Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom, OX3 0BP
Catherine Anna-Marie Graham
Affiliation:
Centre for Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom, OX3 0BP cereneo Foundation, Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CEFIR), 6354 Vitznau, Switzerland Lake Lucerne Institute, 6354 Vitznau, Switzerland
Bethan Leach
Affiliation:
Practice Plus Group, Hawker House 5-6 Napier Court, Napier Rd, Berkshire RG1 8BW
Jonathan Tammam
Affiliation:
Centre for Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom, OX3 0BP
*
Corresponding author: M. Poulter, Email: matt0778@gmail.com, Centre for Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Headington Campus, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom, OX3 0BP
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Prisoners experience a higher burden of poor health, aggressive behaviours and worsening mental health than the general population. This systematic review aimed to identify research that used nutrition-based interventions in prisons, focusing on outcomes of mental health and behaviours. The systematic review was registered with PROSPERO on the 26th of January 2022: CRD42022293370. Inclusion criteria comprised of current prisoners with no limit on time, location, age, sex, or ethnicity. Only quantitative research in the English language was included. PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched, retrieving 933 results, with 11 included for qualitative synthesis. Studies were checked for quality using the ROB 2 or ROBINS-I tool. Of the included studies, seven used nutritional supplements, three included diet changes, and one used education. Of the seven supplement-based studies, six included rule violations as an outcome, and only three demonstrated significant improvements. One study included mental health as an outcome, however, results did not reach significance. Of the three diet change studies, two investigated cognitive function as an outcome, with both reaching significance. Anxiety was included in one diet change study, which found a significant improvement through consuming oily fish. One study using diet education did not find a significant improvement in overall mental resilience. Overall, results are mixed, with the included studies presenting several limitations and heterogeneity. Future research should aim to consider increased homogeneity in research design, allowing for a higher quality of evidence to assess the role nutrition can play in improving the health of prisoners.

Type
Systematic Review
Copyright
© The Authors 2024