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Acculturation factors and the proportion of older Mexican Americans with inadequate folate intakes: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2003–2006
Author(s) -
Hamner Heather Carter,
Cogswell Mary E,
Johnson Mary Ann
Publication year - 2010
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.24.1_supplement.915.2
Subject(s) - national health and nutrition examination survey , medicine , fortification , acculturation , folic acid , environmental health , demography , gerontology , mexican americans , food fortification , immigration , ethnic group , population , geography , food science , biology , archaeology , sociology , anthropology
We examined the association of acculturation factors in Mexican Americans (MA) aged 60+ years with usual mean and inadequate folate intakes. We analyzed data in 1,695 non‐Hispanic white (NHW) and 466 MA adults aged 60+ years participating in NHANES 2003–2006. We estimated usual folate intakes accounting for within‐individual variation using data from two 24 hour diet recalls and average daily intake from supplements. Among MA, 45% spoke mostly Spanish and 42% were born in Mexico. Compared with NHW, MA who spoke mostly Spanish had lower mean usual folic acid intakes from fortified foods alone (103 μg vs.178 μg) and total folic acid (fortified foods + supplements) (189 μg vs. 413 μg), but not natural food folate (202 μg vs. 196 μg). Similar patterns were observed in MA who were born in Mexico. The proportion of NHW and MA adults aged 60+ years who consumed less than the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for folate was 10% and 17%, respectively; in MA who spoke mostly Spanish, the proportion was 26% and in MA who were born in Mexico, 22%. Post‐fortification, inadequate folate intake may be a concern among US MA aged 60+ years who speak mostly Spanish or were born in Mexico. Research funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.