A study from Mass General Brigham researchers highlights the benefits of a long-term "Food Is Medicine" program, demonstrating improvements in cardiometabolic health among adults receiving plant-based grocery packages. The study, published in Preventing Chronic Disease, analyzed health data from 68 participants over an average of 2.7 years, during which they received weekly packages designed by a dietitian.
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These packages included fresh fruits, vegetables, canned beans, nut butter, and whole grains, tailored according to the USDA 2020 Dietary Guidelines. Each package provided enough food for three meals per day for every member of the household for a week, with participants encouraged to collect these packages weekly.
Results revealed that recipients who received more grocery packages showed greater health improvements. Specifically, for every 100 packages received, there was an average decrease of 3.21 mmHg in diastolic blood pressure, a weight reduction of 2.6 kg (5.7 pounds), and a decrease in body mass index (BMI) by 1.04 kg/m2. Participants with high blood pressure at the beginning also experienced reductions in systolic blood pressure. However, no significant changes were observed in hemoglobin A1c levels, a marker of insulin resistance and diabetes.
Senior author Lauren Fiechtner, M.D., MPH, noted that these findings indicate the potential of plant-based food interventions and suggest a future focus on longer durations for effective cardiovascular and metabolic health improvement. The collaboration between Mass General Brigham Revere Community Health Center and the Greater Boston Food Bank has been vital, providing nearly 379,000 pounds (172,000 kilograms) of food to the health center this year.
First author Jacob Mirsky, M.D., MA, emphasized the need for frequent, high-quality food packages to enhance patient benefits, underscoring the study's role in reshaping discussions regarding the effectiveness of food-based health interventions.