Abstract
Even though the total SA American population is increasing rapidly, there is a paucity of information on the relationship between diet quality, acculturation and health outcomes such as Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in the low-income South Asian (SA) sub-population. Our goal was to examine diet quality, degree of acculturation and their potential influence on MetS in a diverse sample of SA Americans. A convenience sample of 401 adult SA men and women were studied using a cross-sectional study design. Volunteers from two low-income community health clinics in Maryland were interviewed by questionnaires. MetS, defined by the consensus harmonized definition by the presence of ≥ 3 of the 5 abnormal indicators, was studied. An interviewer obtained an automated self-administered 24-hour Recall (ASA24) and an acculturation index (using a previously validated (SL-ASIA). SA had a composite HEI2010 score of 68 suggesting an overall need for diet improvements. Males had a higher diet quality (mean HEI2010 score) than females. Males with MetS had lower diet quality (68) than males without MetS (73). The converse was true for females (68 vs. 65). Americanized (more acculturated) subjects had a higher diet quality compared to less acculturated SA. Small differences were found in diet quality scores among SA adults from different countries. Less acculturated females, had a higher percentage of MetS and lower diet quality compared to males. These results suggest that interventions are needed in males and females who were less acculturated because they may have greater MetS and lower diet quality compared to more Americanized SA.
Highlights
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States of America (USA), yet little is known about its major risk indicator, metabolic syndrome (MetS), in South Asian(s) (SA) [1], who presently constitute the second fastest growing minority in the USA [2]
We studied MetS correlates in a convenience sample of 401 SA American adult males (n = 190) and females (n = 211) between the ages of 18–70 years
Mean BMI, WC, HEI, acculturation scores and the percentage of MetS are displayed in Table 1 across gender and ethnic categories
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States of America (USA), yet little is known about its major risk indicator, metabolic syndrome (MetS), in South Asian(s) (SA) [1], who presently constitute the second fastest growing minority in the USA [2].PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0156851 June 14, 2016Diet Quality, Acculturation and MetS of SA AmericansSA in Asia have greater premature mortality from CVD than people in Western countries and this pattern apparently continues for SA immigrants to developed countries [3]. There are numerous factors that affect CVD and metabolic disease. Many of those features have been identified in the USA population. Very few factors have been uncovered among immigrant populations such as the inter-relationships of diet quality, acculturation and their impacts on chronic diseases such as MetS. MetS indicators were obtained from the patient clinical files. The participant’s weight and height were measured on a Detecto promed 6129, (Thornton, CO) scale with subjects wearing light street clothing with shoes removed. Weights were measured to the nearest 0.1 kg and heights to the nearest 0.1 cm. Clinical patient file with who did not meet the eligibility criteria from any of the required MetS and background variables were not included in sample
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