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Nutrients
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Nutrition Equity and Community Health: Social, Environmental, and Innovative Approaches
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Nutrition Equity and Community Health: Social, Environmental, and Innovative Approaches

A Special Issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643) belonging to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2027 | Viewed by 8651

Editors

Dr. Brandi M. White

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Interests: health equity; community-engaged research; implementation science; hypertension; public housing; DASH diet; food security; women
Dr. Kendra OoNorasak

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, 900 South Limestone Street, Room 209C, Lexington, KY 40536-0200, USA
Interests: health equity; community-engaged research; implementation science; hypertension; DASH diet; food security; chronic disease prevention; subsidized housing; older adults

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Persistent disparities in dietary intake and nutrition-related health outcomes remain a pressing public health concern, particularly among economically disadvantaged and historically marginalized populations. Structural and social determinants, including food and nutrition insecurity, systemic racism, underinvestment in neighborhood infrastructure, and lack of access to affordable, healthy, and culturally relevant food, are major drivers of inequities in diet quality and nutrition-related chronic conditions such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. While dietary recommendations like the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and the Mediterranean eating plans are well-established for chronic disease prevention, many communities face persistent barriers to adoption and adherence.

This Special Issue will highlight research that advances our understanding of nutrition equity at both the population and community levels. We welcome interdisciplinary studies that examine how structural, social, and environmental factors shape dietary behaviors and outcomes, as well as community-based interventions that aim to promote dietary change and improve nutrition security. 

This Special Issue will include original research, systematic reviews, program evaluations, and theoretical or methodological contributions focused on nutrition equity, population health, and community-based practice. We encourage submissions using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods, as well as those grounded in implementation science, community-based participatory research, or other participatory approaches.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Brandi M. White
Guest Editor

Dr. Kendra OoNorasak
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nutrition equity
  • population health
  • community-based research
  • dietary patterns
  • food and nutrition security
  • social determinants of health
  • culturally tailored interventions
  • health disparities
  • chronic disease prevention
  • community engagement

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 682 KB  
Article
Harmonisation of Dietary Intake Data in Pregnant Women: Data from the Brazilian Maternal and Child Nutrition Consortium—BMCNC
by Bruna Lazzeri, Helena M. Constante, Monica A. Batalha, Juliana S. Vaz, Caroline B. Gomes, Silmara S. B. S. Mastroeni, Marco F. Mastroeni, Gilberto Kac, Daniela S. Sartorelli, Michele Drehmer and Brazilian Maternal and Child Nutrition Consortium
Nutrients 2026, 18(13), 2068; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18132068 - 24 Jun 2026
Viewed by 460
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study describes the process of harmonising data from food consumption screeners (FCSs) and food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) in pregnant women, highlighting challenges and strategies. Methods: It is a methodological, descriptive study on the harmonisation of individual food intake data. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This study describes the process of harmonising data from food consumption screeners (FCSs) and food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) in pregnant women, highlighting challenges and strategies. Methods: It is a methodological, descriptive study on the harmonisation of individual food intake data. The data were divided into two datasets: FCS and FFQ. FCS responses were categorised as “never/almost never”, “1–4 days per week”, and “≥5 days per week”. FFQ data were harmonised by deriving variables in grams per day. Outliers were identified using z-scores for total harmonised caloric intake exceeding ±2 standard deviations. The distribution and heterogeneity of the derived variables were assessed using multilevel models. Results: Data were drawn from 12 studies conducted in Brazil, part of the Brazilian Maternal and Child Nutrition Consortium (BMCNC). The sample included pregnant women aged 18 years or older, at any stage of pregnancy. The final harmonised datasets comprised eight studies (n = 5484) with FCS data and four studies (n = 1759) with FFQ data. Most food categories in the FCS dataset had comparable frequencies across studies, with differences observed for natural juices, soft drinks, and sweetened beverages. In the FFQ data, the largest variations in daily consumption were found for leafy vegetables, sweetened beverages, and soft drinks. Heterogeneity ranged from less than 0.01% for beans (FCS) to 15.5% for fruits and natural juices (FFQ). Conclusions: By enabling standardised analyses across diverse Brazilian populations, the harmonised BMCNC datasets provide a valuable resource for investigating nutritional inequities and supporting future research to improve maternal and child nutrition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Equity and Community Health: Social, Environmental, and Innovative Approaches)
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22 pages, 3441 KB  
Article
Effect of Dietary Linoleic Acid Intake on Eicosapentaenoic Acid Status and Lipoxygenase-Mediated Oxylipin Biosynthesis in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
by Susan Sergeant, Linda H. Easter, Tammy Mustin, Priscilla Ivester, Jimaree A. Legins, Michael C. Seeds, Carrie S. Standage-Beier, Anderson Cox, Cristina M. Furdui, Brian Hallmark and Floyd H. Chilton
Nutrients 2026, 18(11), 1814; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18111814 - 4 Jun 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1966
Abstract
Background/Objectives. The modern Western diet (MWD) provides high linoleic acid (LA) exposure, typically contributing 6–9% of the total caloric intake. These high LA levels have fueled a longstanding debate about whether this dietary pattern confers benefit or risk. Importantly, LA intake is disproportionately [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives. The modern Western diet (MWD) provides high linoleic acid (LA) exposure, typically contributing 6–9% of the total caloric intake. These high LA levels have fueled a longstanding debate about whether this dietary pattern confers benefit or risk. Importantly, LA intake is disproportionately elevated among lower socioeconomic populations due to greater reliance on industrial seed oils and ultra-processed foods. Despite decades of research, controlled dietary intervention studies directly evaluating the biological consequences of varying LA exposure remain limited. Methods. The current randomized, double-blind intervention (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02962128; 11 November 2016) compared the effects of a 12-week Low-LA diet (2.5% energy) versus a High-LA diet (10.0% energy) in healthy adults. Outcomes included plasma concentrations of highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) and ex vivo zymosan-stimulated whole-blood oxylipin generation. Results. Fifty-two participants completed the intervention. High LA exposure resulted in marked reductions in plasma n-3 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA) concentrations compared with the Low-LA arm. Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) was also significantly lower in weeks 4 and 8. In contrast, levels of the n-6 HUFA arachidonic acid (ARA) did not differ with dietary LA exposure. Conclusions. HUFA and oxylipin analyses revealed that higher dietary LA markedly increased the ratios of ARA to EPA and ARA- to EPA-derived oxylipin species, shifting the lipid mediator balance toward a more n-6-dominant inflammatory profile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Equity and Community Health: Social, Environmental, and Innovative Approaches)
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11 pages, 216 KB  
Article
Affordability and Serving Accuracy of a Publicly Available DASH Meal Plan for Women Using SNAP Benefits
by Kendra OoNorasak, Mansura Shahad Bawa, Nadia A. Sesay, Emma Smith, Taylor Emerson, Jayden Brewer and Brandi M. White
Nutrients 2026, 18(9), 1358; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18091358 - 25 Apr 2026
Viewed by 600
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This regional case study evaluated the affordability and serving accuracy of a publicly available one-week DASH meal plan for single-woman households using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in central Kentucky. Methods: For each food item in the one-week plan, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This regional case study evaluated the affordability and serving accuracy of a publicly available one-week DASH meal plan for single-woman households using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in central Kentucky. Methods: For each food item in the one-week plan, total grocery costs and per-serving costs were calculated using January 2025 prices from two national grocery chains commonly patronized in an urban area in central Kentucky. Calculated costs were compared to the average weekly food cost for women aged 20–50 years in a single household based on the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP). Servings for food groups and categories were calculated using MyPlate and American Heart Association guidelines to compare with those reported in the one-week plan. Results: The total grocery cost was $262.17, including staple foods expected to last more than a week. The adjusted per-serving cost of $82.90 was 21.19% higher than the average weekly food cost based on the January 2025 TFP. All food groups and categories except dairy showed differences of at least one serving between our calculations and the one-week plan. Conclusions: Findings from this case study on grocery costs suggest that the one-week plan may pose affordability challenges in this regional context and continued evaluation of whether SNAP benefit allotments based on TFP adequately reflect regional food cost variations may be warranted. Discrepancies in total servings highlight the need to improve the accuracy of publicly available DASH resources and to review these materials for consistency and accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Equity and Community Health: Social, Environmental, and Innovative Approaches)
22 pages, 742 KB  
Article
Socioeconomic and Environmental Factors Associated with Child Undernutrition and Growth Failure in Eastern Africa
by Maryam Siddiqa, Gulzar Shah, Tahreem Asif, Asifa Kamal and Bushra Shah
Nutrients 2026, 18(4), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18040607 - 12 Feb 2026
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2223
Abstract
Background and Objective: This study examines the factors associated with child undernutrition among children under five in Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, and Tanzania. It uses the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure to measure the full burden of undernutrition, combining weight-for-height (WHZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and [...] Read more.
Background and Objective: This study examines the factors associated with child undernutrition among children under five in Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, and Tanzania. It uses the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure to measure the full burden of undernutrition, combining weight-for-height (WHZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), and height-for-age (HAZ) indicators. This approach captures children facing multiple forms of failure that single indicators miss. Methods: The study analyzed 37,570 children using nationally representative Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data for Ethiopia 2019, Kenya 2022, Madagascar 2021, and Tanzania 2022. A binary logistic regression model identified key predictors of child undernutrition across countries. Results: The prevalence of anthropometric failure ranged from 24% to 44%. Higher parental education, child’s age, socioeconomic status, child’s sex, and a postnatal checkup within 2 months were associated with a lower odds of anthropometric failure. Children of educated mothers in Ethiopia (AOR = 0.547) and Tanzania (AOR = 0.606) had better outcomes. Educated fathers in Kenya (AOR = 0.589) and Madagascar (AOR = 0.369) reduced the risk of child undernutrition. Children aged 13–24 months had a higher risk in all countries. In Madagascar (AOR = 0.309), children who received a postnatal checkup had a decreased risk of malnutrition. Children from rich households in Ethiopia (AOR = 0.645) and from middle (AOR = 0.683) and rich (AOR = 0.535) households in Kenya had significantly lower odds of undernutrition. In comparison, female children had lower odds of anthropometric failure in all four countries. Conclusions: Viewed through a nutrition equity lens, these findings underscore the importance of recognizing how the intersectionality of anthropometric failures disproportionately affects children from poorer households and communities with limited access to education and postnatal care. This study advances existing knowledge by using the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure to show overlapping and hidden forms of undernutrition. The findings identify child age, parental education, postnatal checkup, child sex, and socioeconomic status as shared priorities for reducing undernutrition. The results provide country-specific insights for designing integrated, evidence-based nutrition interventions in Eastern Africa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Equity and Community Health: Social, Environmental, and Innovative Approaches)
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14 pages, 239 KB  
Article
New Tools for Health: COMUNI Questionnaire to Measure Dietary Quality of University Menus
by Beatriz de Mateo Silleras, Laura Carreño Enciso, Sandra de la Cruz Marcos, Emiliano Quinto Fernández and Paz Redondo del Río
Nutrients 2025, 17(24), 3873; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17243873 - 11 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1165
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The university stage is a critical period for consolidating dietary habits that influence future health. University canteens therefore play a key role in providing menus aligned with nutritional recommendations. As menu composition shapes students’ access to healthy food, its evaluation also [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The university stage is a critical period for consolidating dietary habits that influence future health. University canteens therefore play a key role in providing menus aligned with nutritional recommendations. As menu composition shapes students’ access to healthy food, its evaluation also has equity implications. This study aimed to apply a newly designed questionnaire—the COMUNI questionnaire—intended to provide a rapid, user-friendly, and transferable method for evaluating the dietary quality of lunch menus offered in university canteens. Methods: Two versions of the 13-item COMUNI questionnaire were developed: COMUNI-1 for single-option menus and COMUNI-2 for menus offering multiple first- and second-course choices. The tool evaluates the frequency of key food groups, the availability of water and wholegrain bread, and the variety of foods and culinary techniques. To test the questionnaire, it was applied to 34 menu templates from university residences, colleges, and cafeterias. Results: 85.3% of menus showed deficient dietary quality, and 14.7% were rated as improvable; none achieved an optimal score. Menus managed by catering companies obtained significantly higher scores than those under direct management. Most frequently shortcomings included insufficient offerings of vegetables, legumes, fish, and wholegrain bread, alongside a frequent presence of refined carbohydrate sources and fried or ultra-processed foods. Conclusions: Universities should incorporate adherence to dietary recommendations as a key criterion in food-service procurement. The COMUNI questionnaire provides a simple and operational tool for assessing menu quality, supporting both diagnosis and monitoring of university food-service, once formally validated. Its use may also help identify structural disparities in access to healthy foods across campus settings, supporting more equitable food-service policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Equity and Community Health: Social, Environmental, and Innovative Approaches)

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9 pages, 202 KB  
Brief Report
Developing a Community-Driven, Locally Sourced Medically Tailored Meal Model: A Pilot Linking Healthcare, Farmers, and Patients
by Julie Brown, Ashton Potter, Leandra Forman, Jairus Rossi, Anna Cason, Christa Mayfield and Alison Gustafson
Nutrients 2026, 18(4), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18040589 - 11 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1076
Abstract
Background: Food is Medicine (FIM) programs improve health outcomes by integrating nutrition interventions into healthcare delivery, yet gaps remain in community partner capacity and local food system integration. This program aimed to build community capacity to develop a locally sourced, medically tailored meal [...] Read more.
Background: Food is Medicine (FIM) programs improve health outcomes by integrating nutrition interventions into healthcare delivery, yet gaps remain in community partner capacity and local food system integration. This program aimed to build community capacity to develop a locally sourced, medically tailored meal (MTM) model connecting farmers, healthcare providers, and patients. Methods: Meals were developed by a registered dietitian following American Heart Association (AHA) Heart-Check and MyPlate nutrition standards. Recipes were adapted for freezing, scaled for production, and sourced from 26 central Kentucky farms. Eligible participants with hypertension or type 2 diabetes (T2D) were referred through the Food as Health Program at the UK healthcare screening hub and received 10 meals weekly for 12 weeks. Results: Twenty-five participants enrolled (76% female, mean age 52). Of the 25 that participated, n = 12 had complete pre- and post-clinical measures. There was a significant mean decrease in systolic blood pressure from 137.5 to 128.1 mmHg (−9.4 mmHg). There was no significant change in diastolic blood pressure, which went from 79.8 to 70.2 mmHg (−9.2 mmHg), and BMI, which went from 37.59 to 37.93 kg/m2 (0.33 BMI). Over 80% of ingredients were locally sourced, generating $10,686 in farm sales. Participant satisfaction and engagement were high. Conclusions: A community-based FIM model using locally sourced, medically tailored meals improved health outcomes and generated measurable economic benefits for local farmers. Strengthening community capacity and integrating such programs into healthcare payment systems are critical next steps for scale and sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition Equity and Community Health: Social, Environmental, and Innovative Approaches)
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