Quimica

RESEARCH
Original Research

Acculturation and Sociocultural Influences on Dietary Intake and Health Status among Puerto Rican Adults in Massachusetts
MARIA I. VAN ROMPAY, PhD; NICOLA M. MCKEOWN, PhD; CARMEN CASTANEDA-SCEPPA, MD, PhD; LUIS M. FALCÓN, PhD; JOSÉ M. ORDOVÁS, PhD; KATHERINE L. TUCKER, PhD Objective We investigated associations among acculturation, lifestyle characteristics, healthstatus, and carbohydrate nutrition in Puerto Rican adults. A secondary objective was to investigate possible confounding and/or effect modification on these associations by socioeconomic status. Design Cross-sectional data from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study, which included 1,219 Puerto Ricans in the Boston area, aged 45 to 75 years. Statistical analyses Characteristics were compared usinganalysis of covariance, linear trend, and Pearson’s 2 tests across quartiles of acculturation. Tests for interaction by poverty status were conducted. Proportional contributions of foods to intake of total carbohydrate and fiber were assessed using SAS RANK (version 9.1.3, 2002-2003, SAS Institute, Cary, NC). Results Levels of acculturation were low, despite young age at first arrival to the US mainland(25.4 12.3 years) and long length of stay (34.2 12.2 years). Greater English language use was associated with higher socioeconomic status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, better perceived health, and less central obesity. Acculturation was associated with lower legume fiber and greater cereal fiber intake. Among those above the poverty threshold, acculturation was associated with lowerdietary glycemic index and starch intake, and greater fruit and nonstarchy vegetable intake. Conclusions In contrast to studies with Mexican Americans, the association of acculturation with dietary quality in these Puerto Rican adults was mixed, but tended toward better carbohydrate quality. Dietary recommendations should include maintenance of traditional, healthful dietary practices, includingconsumption of legumes, but also reduction in refined grains, and greater inclusion of fruit, nonstarchy vegetables, and whole grains. Interventions to improve access to better quality carbohydrate sources are necessary for this group disproportionately affected by diabetes. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2012;112:64-74. ispanics are the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in the United States and are expected toconstitute 30% of the population by the year 2050 (1). Puerto Ricans are the second largest Hispanic subgroup and constitute 49% of Hispanics in Massachusetts (2). Despite evidence of higher psychosocial stress (3), prevalent type 2 diabetes (4-6), and generally lower so-

ABSTRACT Background Previous studies have shown the negative consequences of acculturation on lifestyle factors, healthstatus, and dietary intake of Hispanic immigrants in the United States. Despite prevalent type 2 diabetes and low socioeconomic status among Puerto Rican adults living on the US mainland, little is known about acculturation in this group.

M. I. Van Rompay is a postdoctoral associate, Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston,MA; at the time of the study, she was a doctoral student at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA. N. M. McKeown is a scientist, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, and director, Nutritional Epidemiology Program, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. FriedmanSchool of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA. C. Castaneda-Sceppa is an associate professor, Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA. L. M. Falcón is a professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA. J. M. Ordovás is director, Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory, and professor of Nutrition and Genetics, Gerald...