Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42374551›Full record

ArticleBMC nutrition2026

Food is the Best Medicine (FBM): design and baseline findings from a multi-arm randomized controlled trial among food-insecure postpartum mothers in Texas.

Aida Nielsen, Alexis Falzone, Christopher Reyes, Elizabeth Polinard, Victoria Threadgould, Nalini Ranjit, Martha Diaz Marin, Alejandra Gonzalez, Maria Tello, Andrea Abel and 3 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06428578 (Enhancing Food as Medicine Interventions for Food Insecure Postpartum Women in Central Texas), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06428578 naunknown statusnot on this map

Enhancing Food as Medicine Interventions for Food Insecure Postpartum Women in Central Texas

TypeinterventionalSponsorThe University of Texas Health Science Center, HoustonRan2024 to 2025Enrolled100ConditionsFood Insecurity in Post Partum WomenArmsFBM-In person, FBM-Virtual, home delivered food boxes
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Aida NielsenDepartment of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Austin, TX, 78701, USA. aida.nielsen@uth.tmc.edu.
Alexis FalzoneUniversity of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Austin, TX, 78701, USA.
Christopher ReyesAscension Seton Foundation, Austin, TX, 78705, USA.
Elizabeth PolinardAscension Health, Austin, TX, 78723, USA.
Victoria ThreadgouldAscension Seton Foundation, Austin, TX, 78705, USA.
Nalini RanjitDepartment of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Austin, TX, 78701, USA.
Martha Diaz MarinDepartment of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Austin, TX, 78701, USA.
Alejandra GonzalezDepartment of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Austin, TX, 78701, USA.
Maria TelloUniversity of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Austin, TX, 78701, USA.
Andrea AbelFarmshare Austin, Cedar Creek, TX, 78612, USA.
Joi ChevalierThe Cook's Nook, Austin, TX, 78742, USA.
Alicia FischweicherFarmshare Austin, Cedar Creek, TX, 78612, USA.
Alexandra van den BergDepartment of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Austin, TX, 78701, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFood is Medicine (FIM) interventions, which connect health-supporting food programs with healthcare systems, demonstrate substantial clinical and economic benefits. However, few FIM studies have focused on the health of postpartum mothers, a population facing unique vulnerabilities during a critical period. Food is the Best Medicine (FBM) is an 8-week, home-delivery-based FIM intervention targeting postpartum mothers experiencing food insecurity. Developed through partnerships between healthcare providers and community-based organizations, the FBM intervention integrates food delivery with supportive services. Here, we describe the research design and present baseline findings of a study evaluating the impacts of supplementing the FBM intervention with different sustainability-enhancing modalities.

methodsThe Food is the Best Medicine (FBM) study was a three-arm randomized controlled trial conducted in Central Texas. Food-insecure postpartum mothers (n = 150) were randomized to receive: (1) FBM-Standard (8-week food delivery), (2) FBM-CHW (standard delivery plus Community Health Worker (CHW) support), or (3) FBM-Virtual (standard delivery plus online educational platform). Primary planned outcome measures included food security and fruit, vegetables, and whole grain intake. Secondary planned outcome measures included nutrition security, breastfeeding rates, mental health, financial stress, and cooking behaviors. Baseline data were collected via telephone or online surveys prior to randomization.

resultsParticipants were predominantly Hispanic (71%) and Spanish-speaking (79%), with a mean household income of $20,620 (SD = $18,190). Most lived in households with multiple children (74%), in which the number of children and adults ranged from 1 to 15 and 1 to 9, respectively, and had limited formal education (38% without a high school diploma). Marital status was not collected. At baseline, 89% were food insecure. Depression screening indicated mental health concerns in 13% of participants. The 10-item Dietary Screener Questionnaire was used to assess fruit and vegetable intake. Mean fruit and vegetable consumption was 3.9 cups daily, but consumption of whole-grain bread and cooked whole grains was low, at about once a week.

conclusionsThe FBM study uses a multi-component, randomized design to evaluate variations of a FIM intervention among food-insecure postpartum mothers. The intervention incorporates food delivery, CHW support, and virtual education components. Ongoing analyses will assess the potential of these approaches to improve food security and related maternal health outcomes in the postpartum period.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06428578 (registered May 20, 2024).

Indexed as

Community health workersFood boxesFood insecurityFood is Medicine (FIM)Free delivered nutritious mealsMaternal healthPostpartum mothers

Identifiers

PMID42374551
PMCPMC13591843

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.