Migrant epidemiologic studies have shown that the risk of certain chronic diseases may be associated with changes in lifestyle. The process of immigration provides an opportunity to examine more closely dietary pattern changes. These changes then provide potential clues as to subsequent health conditions. Food preparation habits, food practices, and nutrition beliefs before and after immigration of 124 Asian immigrants (men 80, women 44) were surveyed. Results indicate that the post-immigration diet is a relatively low-fat (23.6% of total calories), high-carbohydrate (56.7% of total calories) and high-fiber (28.5 gm/d) diet. Comparison of the post-immigration diet to the pre-immigration diet, indicated a significant increase in the intake of cholesterol (from 265.8 to 305.85 Mg/d), fat (from 49.21 to 56.49 gm/d), especially saturated fat (from 14.09 to 18.23 gm/d) and monounsaturated fat (from 15.49 to 19.58 gm/d) intake; conversely there was a decrease in carbohydrate (from 324.9 to 300.3 gm/d) and fiber (from 32.9 to 28.5 gm/d) intake. It is concluded that: 1) upon immigration, the Asian immigrants increased fat and cholesterol intake, decreased CHO and fiber intake, 2) yet, by American standards, the Asian immigrant's current diet is relatively low fat, high CHO and high fiber, and 3) further research is needed to study the health effects of these changes.

Chinese Dietary Patterns Dietary Fiber Dietary Fat Asian Immigration

male Asian American human female priority journal feeding behavior nutritional status Article dietary fiber immigration human experiment cholesterol intake