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. 2016 Oct 20;26(4):529-536.
doi: 10.18865/ed.26.4.529.

Explaining Racial/Ethnic Dietary Patterns in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes: An Analysis of NHANES 2007-2012

Sarah Y Nowlin  1 , Charles M Cleland  1 , Maya Vadiveloo  2 , Gail D'Eramo Melkus  1 , Niyati Parekh  3 , Holly Hagan  1
Affiliations

Explaining Racial/Ethnic Dietary Patterns in Relation to Type 2 Diabetes: An Analysis of NHANES 2007-2012

Sarah Y Nowlin et al. Ethn Dis. .

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this article is to examine sociodemographic and health behavior factors associated with dietary intake as measured by the healthy eating index (HEI-2010) for persons with and without diabetes (T2D).

Design: A secondary data analysis of three NHANES data cycles spanning 2007-2012. Multiple linear regression assessed racial/ethnic differences in HEI-2010 scores in those without T2D, with T2D, and with undiagnosed T2D.

Participants: The sample included non-pregnant adults aged ≥20 years who had two days of reliable dietary recall data.

Outcome measures: Total scores for the HEI-2010.

Results: For those without T2D, there was a significant association between race/ethnicity and HEI score, with non-Hispanic Blacks achieving significantly lower scores than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. Differences in HEI-2010 score were also associated with age, sex, smoking status and time spent in the United States. Racial/ethnic differences in dietary patterns were present, but not significant in those with undiagnosed or diagnosed T2D.

Conclusions: Racial/ethnic disparities in dietary patterns are present in individuals without T2D, but differences are not statistically significant in those with undiagnosed or diagnosed T2D. Non-Hispanic Blacks without T2D received significantly lower HEI-2010 scores than non-Hispanic Whites. Further research is necessary to determine whether or not similarities in dietary intake across racial/ethnic groups with T2D will be reflected in diabetes-related health outcomes in this population.

Keywords: Diet; Dietary Pattern; Ethnicity; Nutrition; Race; Racial Disparities; Type 2 Diabetes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Unadjusted and adjusted mean HEI-2010 scores, and 99% CI, for three levels of diabetes status, stratified by race/ethnicity, accounting for complex survey design weights for three waves of NHANES.
HEI scores range from 0-100, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to dietary recommendations from the USDA. Means adjusted for the following covariates, stratified by T2D status: Race/ethnicity, age, sex, education, PIR, smoking status, marital status, and time in the United States.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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