Food habits of alcoholics in the San Fernando Valley and downtown Los Angeles

Includes bibliographical references (pages 48-51)The dietary habits of alcoholics in downtown Los Angeles were compared to those of alcoholics in the San Fernando Valley. The study involved used a questionnaire and three-day food record. Meal patterns of both groups showed that about forty percent of the group in San Fernando compared to forty-seven percent of the group in downtown Los Angeles ate three meals per day.\ud About ninety percent of the downtown group versus fifty percent of the San Fernando Valley group had their meals prepared by people different from family members. Thirty percent of the San Fernando Valley group and seven percent of the downtown Los Angeles group prepared their own meals. Eighty percent of the downtown group of alcoholics believed their meals to be balanced and nutritious while sixty-seven percent of the San Fernando Valley group of alcoholics thought so.\ud Eight nutrients were analyzed using chi-square statistical analysis. A significant different between sexes was found with regard to intake of protein, vitamin B6 , vitamin B12 , thiamin and riboflavin. There were no significant differences with regard to intakes of folic acid, sodium, potassium and iron.\ud There was no significance difference in adequacy of diet of the alcoholics in this study. Both groups of alcoholics were deficient in vitamin B12. Analysis of the average three-day record of food intake for nutrients showed that intake of most of the nutrients was above the RDA