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

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 < 0.001). Diet quality, evaluated by MAR, was lower in individuals with SUD (54.7 ± 18.9%) than in non-users (93.5 ± 9.0%) (p < 0.001). The taste detection and taste recognition thresholds of individuals with SUD were impaired, and the threshold scores for sour, salty, sweet and umami taste recognition were significantly lower compared with non-users, with the lowest substance user threshold scores observed for the sweet recognition threshold. Standardised nutritional and behavioural interventions designed by dietitians should be provided for drug users in treatment centres and integrated with medical treatment practices.