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Influence of Acculturation on Food Label Use and Nutrient Intakes among Latinos Participating in the DIALBEST Trial: Preliminary Results
Author(s) -
Putnik Predrag,
Calle Mariana C.,
Fernandez MariaLuz,
Damio Grace,
SeguraPérez Sofia,
VegaLópez Sonia,
Chhabra Jyoti,
PerezEscamilla Rafael
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.681.5
Subject(s) - acculturation , socioeconomic status , psychological intervention , riboflavin , gerontology , nutrition education , medicine , environmental health , demography , immigration , psychology , food science , geography , biology , population , archaeology , psychiatry , sociology
Level of acculturation, socioeconomic status, food label use and dietary intake (using a 24h food recall) were measured in a subset (n=81) of the ongoing DIALBEST trial providing peer counseling support to Latinos with type 2 diabetes living in Hartford, CT. At baseline, participants’ age was 56.63 ± 11.0 and the majority was born in Puerto Rico (85%). The mean household size was 2.5 ± 1.5 persons. Only 49% of participants had completed some basic education (8 th grade or less). Monthly income was less than $1000 for 69% of subjects. About 68% of participants were familiar with the food label (FL) but only 55% used it when grocery shopping, and only 35% of them read the ingredients section. Acculturation (measured as linear and multidirectional construct of ARSMA‐II‐Scale) and socioeconomic status (SES) were positively associated with FL recognition (p<0.01) as well as with being familiar with the term ‘daily value’ (p=0.037). Acculturation was positively associated with consumption of fat (r=0.277, p=0.024), total protein and animal protein (p=0.001); vitamins riboflavin and pantothenic acid (p<0.01); and calcium (p<0.01). Our findings suggest that acculturation and SES influence food label use and dietary intake and support the need for culturally appropriate nutrition education interventions tailored to the level of acculturation and education of different Latino groups. Funded by NIH‐NCMHD grant # P20MD001765.