Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health

, Volume 9, Issue 3, pp 171–178 | Cite as

Nutrient Intake, Body Composition, Blood Cholesterol and Glucose Levels among Adult Asian Indians in the United States

Original Paper
First Online:

Abstract

Asian Indian (AI) immigrants have been suggested to be at increased risk for chronic disease. This study examined the metabolic risk factors for CVD among AI immigrants participating in a health fair in Southern Michigan, in the U.S. Participants included AI men (n = 44) and women (n = 57) who completed a demographic questionnaire, blood lipid (TC and HDL-C) and blood glucose (BG) test, resting BP check (SBP and DBP), body composition analysis and 24-h diet recall. For the entire group, the mean values were: BMI = 25.5, % body fat (BF) = 29.3; SBP = 129 mmHg; DBP = 76 mmHg; TC = 198 mg/dL; HDL-C = 48 mg/dL; BG = 111 mg/dL. Significant gender differences were observed: % BF (20% vs. 36%, P < 0.0001), lean body mass (122 vs. 48 lbs, P < 0.0001), HDL-C (42 vs. 52 mg/dL, P < 0.0025), TC/HDL-C (4.86 vs. 4.11, P < 0.03) and BG (122 vs. 105 mg/dL, P < 0.0001), for males and females, respectively. Dietary carbohydrate, protein and fat contributed 64, 14 and 25% of total energy intake. Among males, BMI was positively correlated with % BF (0.729, P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with HDL-C (−0.457, P < 0.05). Among females, BMI was positively correlated with % BF (0.801, P < 0.01), SBP (0.425, P < 0.05) and DBP (0.538, P < 0.01), and negatively correlated with % energy from saturated fat (−0.523, P < 0.01) and calcium intake (−0.445, P < 0.05). Despite having a dietary intake that meets the National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III recommendations, this group was at a higher risk for chronic disease, by virtue of increased BMI and % BF along with an altered metabolic profile (high BP and TC and low HDL-C).

Keywords

Nutrient intake Body fat Blood cholesterol Blood glucose Asian Indians Immigrants 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Sarju Shah for allowing us to participate in the health fair. We thank Meena Bhatti, Juhi Gupta, and Diksha Kapoor for conducting the dietary interviews.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Research and DevelopmentNovartis Medical NutritionSt. Louis ParkUSA
  2. 2.Department of Nutrition and Food ScienceWayne State UniversityDetroitUSA

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