Dietary intake among Alaska native women resident of Anchorage, Alaska

We summarized data from a study of Alaska Native women living in predominantly urban communities to assess the quality of their dietary intakes and compare to current US dietary recommendations.

Descriptive cross sectional study of seventy-four Alaska Native women living in and around Anchorage, Alaska. Each completed up to four 24-h diet recalls during one year. Participants were enrolled in 1996 and 1997. Blood samples were analyzed for hematocrit, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and folate.

Results were compared with current US dietary guide lines for food groups and nutrients. Mean intake of these women fell below recommendations for all food groups except the Meat and Beans Group. Mean intakes of sweets, sodium and energy from fat and saturated fat exceeded recommendations. Red blood cell folate levels were low in 32% of the women. Only one-quarter of the women reported eating Native foods.

The survey shows room for improvement in diet to include reduced intakes of saturated fat, and increased intakes of folate, calcium, and dietary fiber by increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, non-fat milk products, and Native foods.