A new study published in Circulation suggests that adopting American dietary habits may increase heart disease risk for Hispanic and Latino individuals living in the United States.
The research, which followed over 14,000 participants of Hispanic and Latino heritage for 15 years, found that greater dietary acculturation – the adoption of dominant cultural eating patterns – was associated with higher rates of cardiovascular disease and related events.
This is particularly concerning given that Hispanic and Latino people, who make up 19% of the U.S. population, already face disproportionately higher rates of cardiovascular disease compared to national averages.
“The findings show that adopting different dietary patterns can impact the health of people with Hispanic and Latino ancestry, particularly if they alter their original diet high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains to a diet with more fried, processed and salty foods,” said study co-author Linda Van Horn, Ph.D., RD, professor of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University.
The study assessed participants’ dietary habits, blood and stool samples, and cardiovascular outcomes. Those with higher dietary acculturation scores showed more metabolic changes linked to heart disease.
Van Horn noted the study’s importance in understanding health disparities: “This is a very interesting and high-profile study that is providing some new and ongoing data collected regarding health, disparities and social determinants of the health among more versus less acculturated and educated participants and their families.”
Future research will continue examining how dietary changes impact heart health in Hispanic and Latino populations.
See “Analyzing the effects of dietary acculturation on heart health” (August 12, 2024)
