Diet Quality and Its Association with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Vary by Hispanic and Latino Ethnic Background in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Abstract

Background: Healthful diet quality has been associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in several

The Mediterranean Diet Score Is More Strongly Associated with Favorable Cardiometabolic Risk Factors over 2 Years Than Other Diet Quality Indexes in Puerto Rican Adults

“…Diet quality as measured by adherence to AHA recommendations was significantly associated with a healthier cardiometabolic profile and lower odds of allostatic load (8,27). When diet quality was defined with the AHEI in a separate study among Hispanic/Latino ethnic subgroups, we did not detect an association with metabolic syndrome in Puerto Ricans, although it was reported in other subgroups (28). The cross-sectional nature of both studies may affect directionality.…”

“…Higher diet quality among Hispanics with diabetes has been shown in another study (28). Thus, it is important to adjust for preexisting conditions in the association between diet and cardiometabolic markers.…”

“…The DASH score and the MeDS were defined by using population-based cutoffs, whereas the other 3 scores were based on dietary recommendations. Puerto Ricans tend to have poor overall diet (8,28), and it is likely that the limited representation of some foods and nutrients in the guidelines-based indexes influenced the scoring. Although we expected significant associations between the DASH score and BP, a previous study among US Hispanics also failed to detect associations with this DASH definition but observed significant associations by using a simpler DASH score with predefined dichotomous cutoffs and slightly different food groups (36).…”

Psychosocial mediators of dietary change among Hispanic/Latina breast cancer survivors in a culturally tailored dietary intervention

“…Modifiable dietary lifestyle factors have been shown to contribute to post‐diagnosis survival in predominantly non‐Hispanic white populations of breast cancer survivors . Some subgroups of Hispanics/Latinos have dietary patterns low in fruits and vegetables and we and others have previously reported that Hispanics/Latinas in northern Manhattan consume diets low in fruits and vegetables and high in fat and high in saturated fat …”

“…The dietary guidelines for Americans recommend focusing on whole fruits instead of fruit juice . As legumes are commonly eaten by many Hispanic subgroups, the intervention did not focus on augmenting legume intake . Dietary intake was assessed by study interviewers at baseline, 6 and 12 months using three 24‐hour recall assessments (2 weekdays, 1 weekend day) following the multiple pass approach and using the Nutrition Data System for Research developed by the University of Minnesota (1 in‐person during the baseline clinic visit, 2 by phone) .…”