Economic and demographic predictors of dietary variation and nutritional indicators in Nicaragua

We measured carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios in a contemporary population, and tested how the isotopic variability relates to measures of socioeconomic status (e.g., household wealth) and anthropometric measures (e.g., standardized height-for-age and weight-for-age z-scores).

Hair samples from individuals living in the Bosawas Biosphere Reserve in Nicaragua were analyzed for δ¹³ C and δ¹⁵ N, and these data were examined in relation to individual (e.g., age, sex, anthropometrics) and household (e.g., household size, wealth) variables.

We found through mixed-effects modeling that δ¹³ C and δ¹⁵ N varied predictably with individual age and household wealth. δ¹³ C and δ¹⁵ N did not, however, improve models predicting variation in individual anthropometric measures.

These results indicate that, although there is a relationship between diet (δ¹³ C and δ¹⁵ N) and socioeconomic variables, these dietary differences are not the main cause of health differences in this population.