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Ethnic differences in maternal dietary patterns are largely explained by socio-economic score and integration score:
Christine Sommer1, Line Sletner, Anne K Jenum
1Department of Endocrinology, Morbid Obesity and Preventive Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway ; Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Food & Nutrition Research
|July 12, 2013
Summary
Ethnic differences in pregnant women's diets are largely explained by socio-economic status and integration levels. Adjusting for these factors significantly reduced ethnic disparities in unhealthy dietary patterns.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Ethnic variations in dietary habits among pregnant women are significant.
- The influence of socio-economic position and integration on these dietary differences remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize dietary patterns in a multi-ethnic pregnant population.
- To investigate ethnic disparities in dietary patterns, adjusting for socio-economic status and integration.
- To assess the association between dietary patterns and biomarkers of obesity and hyperglycemia.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 757 pregnant women (59% non-Western origin).
- Food frequency questionnaires administered at gestational week 28±2.
- Dietary patterns identified using cluster analysis (Ward's method).
Main Results:
- Four distinct dietary patterns were identified; Cluster 4 was healthiest, Cluster 1 least healthy.
- Non-European women had higher odds of belonging to unhealthier patterns (1-3) versus Cluster 4.
- Odds ratios for unhealthy patterns decreased substantially after adjusting for socio-economic and integration scores.
- Significant differences in glucose, HbA1c, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and cholesterol were observed across patterns.
- Adjusting for ethnicity, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR differences across clusters remained significant.
Conclusions:
- Socio-economic status and integration level significantly explain ethnic variations in dietary patterns among pregnant women.
- These factors play a crucial role in understanding health disparities related to diet in diverse populations.
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