An overview of sodium, calcium, and vitamin D dietary-related behaviors of Chinese Canadians in Edmonton

• Author / Creator

  Yu, Yan Han

• The sodium, calcium, and vitamin D intakes and their respective food sources were assessed in a convenience sample of 81 Canadian-born and foreign-born Chinese adults from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. The mean intakes of sodium, calcium, and vitamin D were 3,623 ± 1,406 mg/day, 794 ± 351 mg/day, and 4.4 ± 3.7 μg/day, respectively. Participants were at high risk for calcium and vitamin D inadequacies and excessive sodium intake. Commercially-processed foods (condiments included) were the main source of sodium (54%). Milk and dairy were the primary sources of calcium (42%) and vitamin D (53%). The findings imply that Chinese adults, Canadian-born and foreign-born alike, are consuming foods typical of Western diets. Western foods are thus important to target to optimize intakes of vitamin D and calcium and to reduce sodium intakes in Chinese Canadians. The study findings can be used to improve future nutrition messaging for each group.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Nutrition assessment
  • Dietary sodium
  • Dietary calcium
  • Vitamin D deficiency
  • Diet
  • Chinese

• Graduation date

  Spring 2012

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3233N

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.