Food Habits and Nutritional Status of East Indian Hindu
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FOOD HABITS AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF EAST INDIAN HINDU CHILDREN IN BRITISH COLUMBIA by CLARA MING LEE£1 B.Sc.(Food Science), McGill University, 1975 A THESIS.: SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE in the Division of HUMAN NUTRITION SCHOOL OF HOME ECONOMICS We accept this thesis as confirming to the required standard. THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA September, 1977 fcT) CLARA MING LEE PI, 1978 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of British Columbia, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for reference and study. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the Head of my Department or by his representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Department of HOME ECONOMICS The University of British Columbia 2075 Wesbrook Place Vancouver, Canada V6T 1WS FEB 8, 1978 i ABSTRACT A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the nutritional stutus of a sample of East Indian children in the Vancouver area. The study sample consisted of 132 children from 3 months to 1$ years of age, whose parents belonged to the congregation of the Vishwa Hindu Parished Temple in Bur- naby, B.C. In the dietary assessment of nutritional status, a 24-hour diet recall and a food habits questionnaire were em• ployed on the 132 children. The Canadian Dietary Standard (revised 1975) and Nutrition Canada categories were used for an evaluation of their dietary intake. In the anthropometric assessment of their nutritional status, the standing height, weight, arm circumference, triceps skinfold, and head cir• cumference of 127 children were measured according to the re• commendation of. the International Biological Program (Weiner and Lourie, 1969). Individual findings were plotted as scat• ter diagrams against both East India and American standard reference curves. Methods used in the biochemical assessment of nutritional status were mostly those described in the In• terdepartmental Committee on Nutrition for National Defence (ICNND) Manual for Nutrition Surveys (1963). Hemoglobin, he• matocrit, plasma levels of vitamin C, vitamin A, carotene, vitamin E, iron and iron binding capacity were determined in ii the blood of 51 children. Results were evaluated according to the categories defined by Nutrition Canada (1973). Anthropometric results indicated satisfactory growth, with the male subjects performing better than the female sub• jects. Both the dietary and biochemical results did not indi• cate gross deficiencies. However, intakes of certain nutrients such as the B vitamins, iron and calcium were low. Recommen• dations were made to the parents on how to improve nutrient intake for such children. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To my research director Dr. Indrajit D. Desai, I extend my sincere thanks for his guidance and encouragement so generously offered throughout the course of this project. In addition, I would like to express my appreciation to Dr. H. Kuhnlein and to Dr. B. Beck for their help in the pre• paration of this thesis. I would also like to thank Mr. Lewis James for his very kind help in developing computer programs for the data analysis. I am grateful to the congregation of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Temple for their assistance and cooperation in the data collection. Finally, I would like to thank the children who participated in this study; without their enthusiathsm and cheerful cooperation, my thesis could not have been accomplished. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii LIST OF FIGURES vi LIST OF TABLES viii INTRODUCTION 1 Chapter I REVIEW OF LITERATURE 3 Food Habits of East Indians Abroad 3 Anthropometric Measurements and Indices for the Assessment of Nutritional Status 9 Biochemical Indices for the Assessment of Nutri• tional Status 11 II MATERIALS AND METHODS 14 Collection of Dietary Data and Food Habit Infor- mation 14 Collection of Anthropometric Data ............ 19 Biochemical Assessment of Nutritional Status • 21 III RESULTS I. Dietary Results 1. Dietary Intake Survey 32 2. Individual Nutrients •• 32 3. Nutrition Canada Categories • • 3# 4. Food Group Contributions 44 5. Food Habits (Questionnaire) 62 II. Anthropometric Results 65 III. Biochemical Results 95 IV DISCUSSION o 102 I. Dietary Assessment of Nutritional Status •• 102 II. Social and Cultural Factors Affecting Nu• trient Intake • , 103 Page Chapter IV DISCUSSION III. Anthropometric Assessment of the Nutrition-?', al Status of Vancouver East Indian Children 107 IV. Biochemical Assessment of Nutritional Status 108 V SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 113 BIBLIOGRAPHY 115 APPENDICES Legends to Appendices 119 1-1 Food Habits Questionnaire 123 1-2 24-Hour Recall Form 135 1-3 Nutritional Status; Investigation Form for Anthro• pometric Measurements • 137 1-4 Nutritional Status Investigation Form for Bio• chemical Data • • • 13 8 II Nutrient Intake (24-Hour Recall Data) 141 III Anthropometric Measurements 145 IV Biochemical Data 149 V. Thank You Letter 151 vi LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1-1 Standard Curve for Hemoglobin 23 1-2 Standard Curve for Vitamin C 25 1-3 Standard Curve for Vitamin A 27 1-4 Standard Curve for Carotene • 2$ 1-5 Standard Curve for Vitamin E 29 II-l Standing Height;.-of Males vs. East Indian Standards • 66 II-2 Standing -Height: of Females vs. East Indian Standards 67 II-3 Standing Height' of Males vs. East Indian Well-to-do Standards 68 II-4 Standing Height . of Females vs. East Indian Well-to-do Standards 69 II-5 Standing Height of Males vs. Western II-6 Standards 70,71 II-7 Standing Height of Females vs. Western Il-g Stanadards 72,73 III-l Sitting Height of Males vs. Western Standards 74 III-2 Sitting Height of Females vs. Western Standards 75 IV-1 Body Weight of Males vs0 East Indian- .. Standards 76 IV-2 Body Weight of Females vs. East Indian Standards ••••••••• 77 IV-3 Body Weight of Males vs. East Indian Well- to-do Standards • • 78 IV-4 'iBDdy Weight of Females vs. East Indian Well- to-do Standards • • •••• 79 vii Page Figure IV-5 Body Weight of Males vs. Western Standards •. 80 IV-6 Body Weight of Males vs. Western Standards .. 81 IV-7 Body Weight of Females vs. Western Standards IV-8 82,83 V-1-; Triceps ^Skinfold Thickness of Males vs. x Western Standards 84 V-2 Triceps Skinfold Thickness of Females vs. Western Standards 85 VI-1 Arm Circumference of Males vs. Western Standards 36 VI-2 Arm Circumference of Females vs. Western Standards 87 VII-1 Head Circumference of Males vs. Western Standards y 88 VII-2 Head Circumference of Females vs. Western Standards 89 viii LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1-1 Canadian Dietary Standard 33 1-2 Distribution of Subjects with Nutrient Intake Less than 2/3 CDS 34 1-3 Distribution of Subjects in Age Groups with Nutrient Intake Less than 2/3 CDS 35 1-4 Nutrition Canada Interpretive Standard .... 4£) 1-5 Distribution of Subjects According to Nutri• tion Canada Category 41 1-6 Percentage Distribution of Subjects with In• adequate or Less than Adequate Nutrient In• takes in Addition to Calcium 42 1-7 Percentage Distribution of Subjects with In• adequate or Less than Adequate Nutrient In• takes in Addition to Iron 43 1-8 Percent Contribution of Food Groups to Nu• trient Intake of East Indian Children 1-4 Yrs 45 I-8A Percent Contribution of Food Groups to Nu• trient Intake of Canadian Children 1-4 Irs. 46 1-9 Percent Contribution of Food Groups to Nu• trient Intake of East Indian Children 5-11 Yrs 47 I-9A Percent Contribution of Food Groups to Nu• trient Intake of Canadian Children 5-11 Yrs 48 1-10' Percent Contribution of Food Groups to Nu• trient Intake of East Indian Males 12-19 Yrs 49 I-?10A Percent Contribution of Food Groups to Nu• trient Intake of Canadian Males 12-19 Yrs . 50 1-11 Percent Contribution of Food Groups to Nu• trient Intake of East Indian Females 12-19 Yrs 51 ix Table Page I-11A Percent Contribution of Food Groups to Nu• trient Intake of Canadian Females 12-19 Irs • 52 1-12 Primary and Secondary Sources for Major Nu• trients in Foods of East Indian and Canadian Children 1-4 Irs 58 1-13 Primary and Secondary Sources for Major Nu• trients in Foods of East Indian and Canadian Children 5-11 Yrs 59 1-14 Primary and Secondary Sources for Major Nu• trients in Foods of East Indian and Canadian Females 12-19 Irs 60 1-15 Primary and Secondary Sources for Major Nu• trients in Foods of East Indian and Canadian Males 12-19 Irs 61 II-1 • Distribution of Subjects in Risk Categories Defined by Nutrition Canada 96 II-2 Nutrition Canada Interpretative Standard .... 97 II-3 Distribution of Subjects* Plasma Vitamin E and Carotene Levels 100 III-l Summary of Dietary Practices 105 . p 1 INTRODUCTION People's food habits have been found to be moulded by cultural patterns, nationality, race, regional locality, agri• cultural resources, technical progress and buying power. Cul• tural influences have been shown to determine meal patterns, the number of meals per day, the method of preparation and utensils used (Livingstone, 1971). Economic conditions are often also reflected in people's food habits (Devadas, 1970). People sub• sist on what is immediately available to them and in doing so, their habits become a part of their culture and environment. Food habits have been found to be one of the most deeply rooted aspects of culture. This may account for the great conservatism often encountered in accepting dietary change (Fathauer, I960).