Knowledge Bank

Data comparing diet quality of US-born and Mexico-born MA is limited in quantity and available data is largely outdated. This study aims to provide up-to-date information on the dietary quality of US- and Mexico-Born MA. NHANES 2005-2010 data was analyzed to evaluate dietary quality via HEI score and nutrient composition of MA meeting inclusion criteria, with Mexico or the US as their country-of-origin (n=3194). Dietary quality of the collective MA population was analyzed, in addition to a comparison of US-born (n=1,345) and Mexico-born (n=1849) subgroups. Mexico-born MA were found to have a diet of greater quality than US-born MA (HEI: Mex-48.0, US-45.4). Both groups consumed inadequate vitamin A and magnesium and US-born consumed significantly less magnesium (P=0.003), potassium (p=0.029), vitamin C (P=<0.001), but consumed greater amounts of folate (P=0.044). Research implications include the provision of early interventions to support retention of positive dietary qualities and the prevention of those negative.