title: Dietary differences between elderly Iranians living in Sweden and Iran a cross-sectional comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  During the last decades, global migration has increased and many immigrant groups have a higher prevalence than the native born population of several cardiovascular disease risk factors, including poor dietary habits. However, it is uncertain if dietary habits in immigrant populations reflect dietary habits in their country of origin or if the current diet is a consequence of the migration and possible change of dietary habits. The aim of this study was to examine possible dietary differences between elderly Iranians living in Stockholm, Sweden with elderly Iranians living in Tehran, Iran, taking into account sex, age, marital status, and education.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dietary intakes were assessed by semi--quantitative food frequency questionnaire in a cross-sectional study of 121 Iranians living in Stockholm and 52 Iranians living in Tehran, aged 60-80. Differences in dietary habits between the two groups was analysed by bootstrapped regression analyses with 1000 replications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Iranians living in Sweden had significantly higher intake of protein, total fat, fiber than Iranians living in Iran, but lower consumption of carbohydrates. The observed differences in intake of macronutrients were reflected in consumed amount of all food items, which were higher among Iranians living in Iran with the exception of bread and grain consumption which was lower.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are general differences in dietary habits between Iranians living in Iran and Iranians living in Sweden. Parts of observed differences in dietary habits may reflect a favourable adoption process to the Swedish dietary habits after migration. Meanwhile other differences are point of concern in light of the high prevalence of overweight, among Iranians living in Sweden and can have unfavourable impact in particular in the context of cardiovascular health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Afsaneh.Koochek@ikv.uu.se
authors.forename: Afsaneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koochek
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mirmiran
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sundquist
authors.forename: Firoozeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: Tohid
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.forename: Ali S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Moeini
authors.forename: Sven-Erik
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Brita
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karlström
authors.forename: Fereidoun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azizi
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sundquist
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013548:Sweden