Diet and nutrition-related concerns of blacks and other ethnic minorities.

Ethnic minorities in the U.S., specifically black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific, and Native Americans, have higher rates of morbidity and mortality than the white (non-Hispanic) population. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to these disparities. Among environmental factors, dietary patterns are important determinants of health. Diets of ethnic minority groups are influenced by a number of factors including the nature of the traditional diet, and the degree to which this diet has been adapted to or replaced by diets typical of the U.S. Although certain food themes and preferences such as "soul" and southern foods are emphasized in the diets of black Americans, their diets resemble those of the white population. In contrast, traditional diets of Hispanic, Asian/Pacific, and Native Americans not only differ from each other but also from those of the white population. In particular, carbohydrate-containing foods (e.g., rice, tortillas), rather than meat, are the major source of energy in the traditional diets of these ethnic minority populations. In general, complex carbohydrates and sodium are high in these diets, whereas total fat, saturated fat, calcium, iron and some vitamins are relatively low. Inadequate calcium intake of many ethnic minority populations is associated with limited use of dairy foods, either as a result of lactose intolerance or culturally-determined food avoidances. Some nutritional risks associated with ethnic minority group dietary patterns are the result of adaptation to U.S. dietary patterns. Nutrition-related diseases of high prevalence in ethnic minorities include obesity and diabetes in black, Hispanic, and Native Americans, and hypertension in black and Asian/Pacific Americans. Salt sensitivity and a low dietary intake of potassium and calcium have been identified as possible risk factors for hypertension in black Americans. Compared with whites, some minority groups, despite their overall lower calcium intakes, are at relatively low risk of osteoporosis or age-related bone loss leading to fractures. However, this advantage may change, at least in black Americans, with decreasing physical activity associated with increasing affluence and increasing longevity. Other nutrition-related health problems of ethnic minorities, especially those of low socioeconomic status, are low birth weight, iron deficiency anemia, suboptimal intake of certain vitamins, and in children, stunting of growth often coincident with obesity.