High saturated fat and cholesterol intakes and abnormal plasma lipid concentrations observed in a group of 4- to 8-year-old children of Latino immigrants in rural Nebraska

Latino immigrants in the United States are at high risk for developing obesity and chronic diseases. Anthropometric characteristics (height, weight, body mass index), selected nutrient (protein, fat, saturated fat, sugar, cholesterol, folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12) intakes, and plasma lipid profiles and homocysteine concentrations in a group of children of Latino immigrants from rural Nebraska were evaluated in this descriptive survey. The convenience sample included 36 apparently healthy children, aged 4 to 8 years, living in Schuyler or Columbus, Neb. Using body mass index-for-age growth charts, we found 19% of the subjects were at risk of being overweight and 11%, overweight. Nutrient intakes were similar by sex. Seventy-two percent of subjects had total fat intakes of more than 35% of total energy expenditure; 94%, saturated fat intakes of more than 10% total energy expenditure; and 33%, cholesterol intakes of more than 300 mg/d. Twenty percent of subjects had plasma total cholesterol of 4.4 mmol/L or more; 20%, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of 2.8 mmol/L or more; and 50%, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of less than 1.0 mmol/L. Many of the children of Latino immigrants in this study were found to be at risk of being overweight and overweight; consumed diets high in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol; and had high plasma total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. This study suggests that obesity and fat intake issues be addressed when counseling children of Latino immigrants.