Nutritional status of patients in methadone, buprenorphine, and opium tincture maintenance therapy

Background: Opiate replacement therapy has gained increasing popularity in Iran. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of patients on methadone, buprenorphine, or opium tincture maintenance therapy. Methods: This prospective observational cohort study evaluated 84 patients under maintenance therapy with methadone, buprenorphine, or opium tincture (number of each group = 28) who were selected among those presenting to an outpatient substance abuse treatment centre in Tehran, Iran, in 2016-2017. The Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess the nutritional status of the patients at the study onset (baseline) and after 3 months. The results were analyzed using paired t-test and one-way ANOVA. Results: A total of 57 males and 27 females with a mean age of 39.34 +/- 9.7 years were enrolled. The results showed a significant increase in the FFQ score of patients in all three groups (paired t-test, P<0.05); however, no significant difference was noted in this respect among the three groups at baseline (P>0.05) or after 3 months (P>0.05). Conclusions: Opiate replacement therapy improved the nutritional status of patients, although none of these treatments were different in outcome.