Rate of Nutrition-Related Chronic Diseases Among a Multi-Ethnic Group of Uninsured Adults.

The prevalence of nutrition-related chronic diseases, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes, among adults in the U.S. is of increasing importance.

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension and risk of chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Background & Aims: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet has been favorably linked to important risk factors associated with development of chronic kidney disease (CKD), such as insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. However, the protective role of DASH dietary patterns in development of CKD, as measured by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), remains inconsistent in the literature. The aim of the current systematic review was to summarize the findings of previous observational studies and quantify the potential association between DASH dietary patterns and the risk of CKD using meta-analysis.

The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Blood Lipids in Minorities with Type 2 Diabetes.

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency and type 2 diabetes are common among Hispanics and African Americans in the US. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of supplemental vitamin D intake (4000 IU/day or 6000 IU/day of vitamin D3 over a 6-month period) on blood lipids in a sample of African Americans and Hispanics with type 2 diabetes and vitamin D insufficiency.

Materials And Methods: Participants (n = 75) were recruited by community outreach.

Validation of a Sun Exposure Questionnaire Among Subjects with Type 2 Diabetes Residing in South Florida.

To validate a sun exposure questionnaire against objective measures of change in skin color and to assess its validity in predicting 25(OH)D in a sample of African Americans and Hispanics with type 2 diabetes. Ninety subjects were enrolled. The sun exposure score was calculated by multiplying the time spent outdoors times the skin exposed score.

Lifestyle behaviors and self-rated health: the living for health program.

Background: Lack of adherence to dietary and physical activity guidelines has been linked to an increase in chronic diseases in the United States (US). The aim of this study was to assess the association of lifestyle behaviors with self-rated health (SRH).

Methods: This cross-sectional study used self-reported data from Living for Health Program (N = 1,701) which was conducted from 2008 to 2012 in 190 health fair events in South Florida, US.

Skin Color and Self-reported Sun Exposure Scores are Associated with Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations in a Multi-ethnic Population Living in South Florida.

Aims: The aim was to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], skin color and sun exposure score.

Study Design: Cross-sectional.

Place And Duration Of Study: Florida International University, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Miami, Florida from July 2012 to October 2012.

Use of Homeostatic Model Assessment Indexes for the Identification of Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance among Cuban-Americans: A Cross Sectional Study.

Aim: to determine cut off points for The Homeostatic Model Assessment Index 1 and 2 (HOMA-1 and HOMA-2) for identifying insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome among a Cuban-American population.

Study Design: Cross sectional.

Place And Duration Of Study: Florida International University, Robert Stempel School of Public Health and Social Work, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Miami, FL from July 2010 to December 2011.

Ethnic Differences in Insulin Resistance, Adiponectin Levels and Abdominal Obesity: Haitian Americans and African Americans, with and without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Metabolic outcomes of obesity and its associated disorders may not be equivalent across ethnicity and diabetes status.

Aim: In this paper, we examined the association of abdominal obesity, by ethnicity and diabetes status, for indicators of glucose metabolism in Blacks.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Haitian Americans (n= 186) and African Americans (n= 148) with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

The effects of vitamin D on the renin-angiotensin system.

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: The current literature indicates that maintaining adequate vitamin D levels may be an important consideration in the treatment of hypertension, especially in individuals with vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency.

The association of depression and perceived stress with beta cell function between African and Haitian Americans with and without type 2 diabetes.

Background: Diabetes and diabetes-related complications are major causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Depressive symptoms and perceived stress have been identified as possible risk factors for beta cell dysfunction and diabetes. The purpose of this study was to assess associations between depression symptoms and perceived stress with beta cell function between African and Haitian Americans with and without type 2 diabetes.

Perceived stress and self-rated health of Haitian and African Americans with and without Type 2 diabetes.

Background: Blacks have a higher incidence of diabetes and its related complications. Self-rated health (SRH) and perceived stress indicators are associated with chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between SRH, perceived stress and diabetes status among two Black ethnicities.