From the Guidelines
Prisoners would benefit from a daily multivitamin containing essential nutrients, particularly those who consume less than 1500 kcal per day, as they often have difficulty meeting their micronutrient needs through regular food intake alone 1.
Key Nutritional Supplements
- Vitamin D: essential for bone health and immune function, especially considering limited sun exposure in prison settings
- Vitamin B12 and folate: may be considered for individuals with deficiencies, as identified through personalized assessment
- Multivitamin supplementation: recommended for individuals consuming less than 1500 kcal per day to ensure adequate micronutrient intake
Rationale
Prison diets often lack adequate nutrition due to budget constraints and institutional food preparation methods, leading to deficiencies in key nutrients. Supplementation should complement rather than replace efforts to improve overall prison food quality. Individual needs may vary based on age, sex, pre-existing conditions, and medication use, so ideally, supplementation would follow medical screening.
Additional Considerations
- Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C may also be beneficial for brain health and stress management, although the provided evidence does not directly support their use in prison settings 1.
- Magnesium and other minerals like iron, selenium, and zinc may be important for muscle function, stress reduction, and overall health, but their supplementation should be guided by medical screening and identification of deficiencies 1.
From the Research
Dietary Supplements in Prison
- The Centurion Health guidelines for dietary supplements in prison are not explicitly stated in the provided studies, but the importance of adequate nutrition for prisoners is emphasized 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- Prisoners often present with health and social factors that can lead to a high risk of malnutrition, making it essential to provide healthy food choices to optimize health 2.
- The treatment of malnutrition is discussed in the context of detection, management, and monitoring, highlighting the need for adequate nutrition in prison settings 2.
Recommended Nutritional Supplements
- Prenatal vitamins are recommended for pregnant inmates to meet the nutritional needs for healthy pregnancy outcomes 4.
- The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' nutrition recommendations should be followed for pregnant inmates 4.
- Additional food and modifications to meet pregnancy needs should be provided, along with regular access to water 4.
- Vitamin D supplements may be necessary for older males in prison, as their dietary intake may be inadequate 5.
Nutrition Care in Prison
- An evidence-based nutrition curriculum for prison settings should be developed to address the health disparities faced by incarcerated individuals 3.
- The curriculum should be informed by literature on current nutrition in prison and previous health interventions designed to improve the health of incarcerated individuals 3.
- Age-appropriate nutritional and exercise interventions should be prioritized in prisons, especially for older prisoners 6.