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Adequate nutrition is necessary for overall health and development(1). Prisoners in general lack autonomy over their diet, in addition to being a population with a high risk of poor health outcomes(2 , 3). It is important therefore that prisons are offered menus which meet dietary reference values (DRVs), as set by the UK government, aiming for equity with the general population, and that prisoners choose food options that are beneficial for their health. The aim of this study was to conduct a nutritional analysis of prisoners' food diaries to determine whether dietary recommendations were being met. Seven-day food diaries were collected from prisoners eating the normal food supplied by three young offender institutions in 2009. Food eaten was analysed using DietPlan6 version 6.0 (Forestfield Software Ltd). Individual nutrient data were tested for normality and compared against the UK DRVs and NDNS data from 2008/9 using either the one-sample T-test, or one-sample Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Data in the results is presented as (Mean ± SD). There were n=466 diaries analysed, from male participants aged between 16 to 24 years. Twenty- eight nutrients were compared with their respective DRVs by age categories: 16-18y (n=156), 19-24y (n=310), and 16-24y (n=466). For ages 16-24y, chloride (5556 ± 1692mg), folate (302 ± 112ug), iodine (195 ± 81ug), monounsaturated fat (35 ± 10g), potassium (3667 ± 1161mg), sodium (3899 ± 1392mg), sugar (136 ± 73g), riboflavin (2 ± 1mg), vitamin B12 (6 ± 4ug), vitamin C (92 ± 63mg), and zinc (11 ± 3mg) exceeded DRV requirements (P<0.01). Carbohydrates (53 ± 5%E), saturated fat (12 ± 5%E), and sugar (19 ± 9%E) all exceeded their DRVs (P<0.05). Vitamin A (553 ± 531ug) and fibre (15 ± 6g) were found 24% and 18% lower than the DRVs, respectively (P<0.01). Fat (34 ± 5%E), polyunsaturated fat (6 ± 1%E), and protein (14 ± 2%E), as a percent of energy, were below the DRV by 3%, 8%, and 7% respectively (P<0.01). Magnesium (301 ± 107mg) was equal to the DRV (P=0.81). For 16-18, and 19-24 respectively, calcium (1286 ± 928mg; 1337 ± 489mg), copper (1 ± 0.6mg; 2 ± 0.6mg), iron (14 ± 5mg; 15 ± 6mg), niacin (19 ± 7mg; 21 ± 7mg), phosphorus (1545 ± 381mg; 1620 ± 493mg), protein (96 ± 24g; 100 ± 29g), thiamine (2 ± 0.6mg; 2 ± 0.7mg), and vitamin B6 (2.3 ± 0.7ug; 3 ± 0.9ug) exceeded their DRV (P<0.01). For 16-18y, energy (kcals) was equal to the DRV (2748 ± 787kcal, P=0.91). For years 19-24y, energy (kcal) exceeded the DRV (2931 ± 939kcal, P<0.01). This study represents the largest assessment of dietary intake of prisoners and demonstrates that the prison catering, for the most part, met the DRVs. However, sugar, fat, and energy intake exceeded their DRV target, posing clear risks to health by possibly contributing to later obesity, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder in which dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, a region of the brain that controls movement, are lost over time (1). This results in motor symptoms, such as bradykinesia, and non-motor symptoms such as depression (2). Evidence- based resources and programmes utilising exercise for symptom management are widely available (3). However, despite emerging evidence showing that diet changes can improve quality of life and reduce disease severity (4), there are few dietary guidelines and programmes. This study aims to address a current literature gap in qualitative studies assessing the opinions of healthcare professionals (HCPs) towards diet and exercise in PD care, and to identify barriers and facilitators of this in care. A qualitative design was used to assess the views and beliefs of HCPs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone, using a topic guide developed by the research team, consisting of 20 questions. The data were analysed using the six-phase process of Reflexive Thematic analysis to determine key themes in the data (5). Five HCPs participated in this study. One main theme and two subthemes were identified. The main theme was that provisions of care and dietary advice are limited by a lack of knowledge of evidence- based, PD-specific, dietary guidelines. Subtheme 1 was that evidence-based exercise guidelines have been important facilitators in supporting care provision. Subtheme 2 was that lack of dietary guidance has been a barrier to optimum care provision and self-efficacy of HCPs. HCPs were less likely to discuss diet, due to barriers including lack of available resources or knowledge thereof, self-efficacy to recommend dietary changes, time constraints in the clinic, and less well-established referral pathways for dietitians. HCPs were unaware of the influence of diet in PD treatment, despite diet's impact on symptoms being discussed in clinic. However, HCPs agreed that evidence-based resources would benefit HCPs' practice, to improve symptom severity and nutritional status of patients. Exercise was more likely to be discussed, as evidence-based guidelines and empirical understanding meant HCPs were more aware of the beneficial effects on symptoms. While limited by small numbers, these findings suggest that a lack of knowledge, low self-efficacy, and time pressures mean that patients may not receive dietary guidelines which may be beneficial to their care. Self-efficacy of HCPs should be improved through PD-specific nutritional education, development and dissemination of PD-specific nutrition guidelines and resources. Future research should aim to determine the effectiveness of relevant dietary strategies' in managing and caring for PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]