Dietary intake of Indians living in the metropolitan area of Durban.
OBJECTIVE
To report on energy and nutrient intakes, as a risk factor for coronary heart disease in Indian South Africans.


METHODS
Cross-sectional dietary study as part of a coronary heart disease survey.


METHODS
Metropolitan area of Durban, South Africa.


METHODS
Free-living Indian men (n = 406) and women (n = 370) 15-69 years of age.


METHODS
Dietary data were collected by three interviewers using a 24-h dietary recall and expressed as median intakes of macronutrients.


RESULTS
Results reported a low energy intake and the percentage of energy derived from total fat varied between 32.3 and 34.9% in men and between 33.1 and 36.1% in women. The energy intake to basal metabolic rate (EI:BMR) ratios were low for all age groups suggesting potential under-reporting. Intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids was high, more than 10% of energy, with a median polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratio (P:S ratio) that varied between 1.38 and 1.96 for the various age and sex groups. Dietary cholesterol varied between 66 and 117 mg per 4.2 MJ in men and between 76 and 109 mg per 4.2 MJ in women. Dietary fibre intakes were low and varied between 8.0 and 11.0 g per 4.2 MJ in men and between 7.6 and 9.6 g per 4.2 MJ in women.


CONCLUSIONS
The dietary P: S ratios were high and the effect of such a high P:S ratio on the oxidation of low density lipoprotein in this population, with a high prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD), should be investigated as a possible risk factor for CHD.
Wolmarans
P
P
Medical Research Council, National Research Programme for Nutritional Intervention, Tygerberg, South Africa. pwolmara@eagle.mrc.ac.za
Seedat
Y K
YK
Mayet
F G
FG
Joubert
G
G
Wentzel
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D005006:Ethnicity; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology