RACIAL-DIFFERENCES IN INTAKES OF ENERGY, NUTRIENT, ALCOHOL AND CAFFEINE INTAKES FOR ADULTS WITH NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

To examine differences in intake of nutritional parameters among black s and whites with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), pat ients at a large family practice ambulatory care unit and a community health center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina were recruited. Two hun dred eighty three patients completed three-day food records, which wer e analyzed using the Nutritionist III software program. Subdivisions o f the group were made by agegroup (< 60 years, greater than or equal t o 60 years), race (black, white) and gender. Two-tailed Analysis of Va riance (ANOVA) using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences f or Personal Computers (SPSSPC). Overall, blacks consumed more choleste rol and significantly less magnesium and caffeine than did whites, Dif ferences in intake were also noted with two-way (race by sex, race by agegroup, sex and agegroup) and three-way (race by sex by agegroup) in teractions. Higher intake of cholesterol among blacks has been documen ted in healthy populations. Development and implementation of nutritio n education programs for the prevention or control of chronic illnesse s should be tailored around differences in food consumption among raci al/ethnic groups. More research is warranted to examine differences in food/nutrient intake among racial groups with chronic illness(es), or within racial groups with and without illnesses.