Correlation of Omega-3 Fatty Acids Intakes with Acculturation and Socioeconomic Status in Midwestern Latinas

• Published in: Journal of immigrant and minority health 2011-02, Vol.13 (1), p.111-118
• Main Authors: Lora, Karina R, Lewis, Nancy M, Eskridge, Kent M, Stanek-Krogstrand, Kaye, Travnicek, Daryl A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acculturation; Acids; Adult; Behavior; Community Relations; Comparative Law; Correlation analysis; Death; Diet; Disease; Education; Educational Attainment; Ethnic Groups; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - administration & dosage; Female; Females; Food; Hispanic Americans; Humans; Immigrants; International & Foreign Law; Interviews as Topic; Latin American people; Latinos; Low Income; Low income groups; Male; Marine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mexican Americans; Midwestern United States; Minority & ethnic groups; Noncitizens; Nutrition research; omega-3 fatty acids; Original Paper; Pregnancy; Private International Law; Public Health; Questionnaires; Sampling; Social Class; Sociodemographics; Socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomic status; Socioeconomics; Sociology; Studies; Thunnus; White people; Womens health
• ISSN: 1557-1912; 1557-1920
• DOI: 10.1007/s10903-009-9314-z

Background Low socioeconomic status (SES) and acculturation of Latino immigrants in the U.S. are linked to a decrease in diet quality. Methods Interviews were conducted with 162 firstgeneration Latinas to examine the association of SES and acculturation with intake of omega-3 (n − 3) fatty acids. Each participant provided dietary intake by use of a validated n − 3 food frequency questionnaire administered twice, 4 weeks apart, three 24-h recalls, sociodemographic information and completed the 5-item Short Acculturation Scale. Results Mean intakes of Total n − 3, α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (g/d) were 1.2 ± 0.7, 1.1 ± 0.6, and 0.1 ± 0.1, respectively. After adjusting for energy intake, education was significantly correlated with EPA + DHA intakes, and acculturation was significantly correlated with Total n − 3, ALA and EPA + DHA intakes. Foods sources of EPA + DHA eaten by at least 50% of participants were chicken, shrimp, tuna and eggs. Discussion Given the beneficial cardiovascular effects of n − 3 fatty acids, it is important to understand sociocultural factors affecting adequate intake towards an improvement in diet quality in minorities.