Hypertension in Alaska natives: Association with overweight,glucose intolerance,diet and mechanized activity

Objective. Determine the prevalence of hypertension in Alaska Natives and evaluate risk factors.

Design. Population‐based univariate and multivariate analysis of blood pressure in 1124 Alaska Natives over 20 years of age.

Results. The sample had mean: age 45 years, body mass index 27, systolic pressure 123 mmHg and diastolic pressure 73 mmHg. The age‐adjusted rate of hypertension ≥ 160/95 mmHg was 9.1% and 6.8% among Athabascan Indians and Yup'ik Eskimos, respectively. After controlling for age and sex there was significantly more hypertension among Athabascan Indians (OR=1.53, CI = 1.07–2.2, p = 0.019) compared to Yup'ik Eskimos. Race was significantly associated with blood pressure 3 ≥ 140/90 when controlled for age and overweight (p = 0.07, OR = 0.78, CI = 0.69–0.95). The presence of hypertension was significantly associated with the following: intake of non‐indigenous food (p = 0.01); mechanized activities (p = 0.01); and glucose intolerance in both women (p = 0.043) and men (p = 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed age (OR = 1.06, CI= 1.05–1.08) and overweight in both men (OR = 3.02, Cl= 1.85–4.93) and women (OR = 2.76, CI= 1.81–4.19) to be significantly associated with BP ≥ 140/ 90.

Conclusion. Hypertension is no longer rare in Alaska Natives and is associated with overweight, non‐indigenous diet, mechanized activities, and glucose intolerance.     

Differential Risk of Hypertension Among Lean and Nonlean Rural Subjects in Relation to Decadal Changes in Anthropometry

Objective: Assessing risk of hypertension in relation to decadal changes in anthropometry among cohort of young rural Indian men.

Methods: Subjects (n = 140) were measured in 2005 and 2015 for blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), body fat (BF), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and additionally for visceral fat (VF) at follow-up.

Results: Decadal changes showed significant (p < 0.001) increase in mean anthropometric measures and in prevalence of overall obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/m²) from 3.6% to 37.1%; adiposity (BF ≥25%) from 5.1% to 40.9%; and central obesity (WHR ≥0.9) from 0.7% to 24.3%. Prevalence of hypertension increased (20.7% to 27.1%) but was not statistically significant. VF correlated significantly (p < 0.001) with decadal changes (Δ) in BMI, BF, WC, and WHR, and the correlations were stronger (r = 0.90, 0.78, 0.84, and 0.56, respectively) for lean (baseline BMI < median) subjects than nonlean (baseline BMI ≥median) subjects (r = 0.68, 0.40, 0.61, and 0.43, respectively). Risk of hypertension was significant (odds ratio [OR] = 11.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.8–42.8) for subjects with higher ΔBMI (≥4.7 kg/m²) compared with those with lower ΔBMI (<4.7 kg/m²) among lean but was not significant among nonlean subjects. This was also true for change in other adiposity indicators, indicating greater vulnerability of lean subjects. Further, among lean subjects, ORs reduced considerably after adjusting for VF, whereas among nonlean subjects ORs continued to remain nonsignificant but showing independent significance for VF.

Conclusions: For similar level of change in adiposity indicators, lean subjects were at greater risk of hypertension than nonlean subjects, probably due to higher VF deposition.     

Body mass index and cardiovascular risk factors in pacific Island Polynesians and Europeans in New Zealand

Objectives. To examine relationships between body mass index (BMI) and cardiovascular risk factors in 279 Europeans and 231 Polynesian Pacific Islanders in New Zealand.

Methods. Participants were recruited from Seventh‐Day Adventist church meetings or camps, and were surveyed by self‐administered questionnaire. Blood pressure, weight and height were measured. Fasting blood samples were analysed for lipids, glucose and fructosamine.

Results. Age‐adjusted BMI was higher in Pacific Islanders than in Europeans: 32.8(0.3) versus 25.6(0.3); means(SE); p = 0.0001). In Europeans, BMI was positively associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressures, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and fasting blood glucose, and negatively associated with HDL cholesterol. In Pacific Islanders, BMI was associated only with systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and with HDL cholesterol. These associations were stronger in Europeans than in Pacific Islanders.

Conclusions. In this group of Pacific Islanders, the association between BMI and cardiovascular risk factors was weaker than in Europeans. This suggests that either BMI is a poor measure of adiposity in Pacific Islanders, or that adiposity may be less strongly linked to cardiovascular disease in Pacific Islanders.     

Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and ethnic origin

Objectives. To test the association of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection with ethnic origin.

Design. A prospective study by micro‐immunofluorescence of antibodies to C. pneumoniae in patients admitted to one hospital with a variety of non‐pulmonary, non‐cardiovascular disorders.

Setting. A large district general hospital serving a multi‐ethnic inner‐city population in Birmingham, UK.

Subjects. There were 1518 patients, 1061 of whom were Caucasian, 290 Asian and 167 Afro‐Caribbean. Each of 169 Asians and 141 Afro‐Caribbeans was matched with two Caucasians for age, sex, smoking habit, steroid medication and date of admission, and logistic regression methods were used to compare the effects on C. pneumoniae antibody levels of ethnic origin, these confounding variables, diabetes mellitus and social deprivation.

Outcome measures. Serological evidence of acute C. pneumoniae infection or reinfection (defined by titres of lgM ≥ 8, a four‐fold rise in IgG or IgG ≥ 512) and previous infection (IgG 64–256 or IgA ≥ 8).

Results. Results showed 4.8% of Caucasians, 6.6% of Asians and 10.2% of Afro‐Caribbeans had antibody titres suggesting acute (re)infection; and 11.2% of Caucasians, 13.4% of Asians and 21.0% of Afro‐Caribbeans had titres suggesting previous infection. On χ² analysis, the distributions of the three possible serological outcomes (acute, previous and no infection) differed significantly (p < 0.05) between the Afro‐Caribbean and Caucasian groups, but not between Asians and Caucasians or between Afro‐Caribbeans and Asians. After adjusting for possible confounding variables, odds ratios for Afro‐Caribbean versus Caucasian origin were 5.5 (95% confidence intervals 2.0–15.0) for acute (re)infection and 1.9 (1.0–3.7) for previous infection.

Conclusions. Our results suggest that C. pneumoniae infection may be more prevalent among Afro‐Caribbean than among Caucasian people, and that Asians may lie somewhere between them in this respect. The behaviour of this pathogen in different ethnic groups deserves further investigation. Future studies of this organism should give due attention to the ethnic origins of patients.     

Eating attitudes of Native American and white female adolescents: a comparison of BMI- and age-matched groups

Objective. To explore the differences in eating attitudes between groups of Native American and white female adolescents based on data derived from the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT‐26).

Design. Selected data presented here were derived from a larger convenience sample of (2,000 students in grades 5–12 using a self‐report questionnaire, which included the EAT‐26 and various demographic questions, administered by teachers at 17 schools across Montana (USA).

Results. Comparing the eating attitudes of age‐ and body‐mass‐index (BMI)‐matched Native American and White girls (mean age=14.2 years) revealed that Native ethnicity was associated with significantly higher dieting and restricting/purging scores. BMI was strongly positively associated with greater food preoccupation, independently of ethnicity. Both Native ethnicity and low BMI scores contributed to higher restricting/purging and social pressure/oral control scores.

Conclusion. In general, Native American girls reported significantly higher scores on the EAT‐26 due mainly to more dieting, more perceived social pressure to eat, and more restricting and purging. By contrast, higher BMI was associated with greater food preoccupation, less restricting/purging, and less social pressure to eat. Thus, while Native American ethnicity and BMI both influence the risk of eating problems, these results are the first to suggest how ethnicity and BMI may differentially influence specific eating attitudes and behaviors among these groups of adolescent girls. Nevertheless, many questions about the causes and consequences of eating‐related problems among Native American adolescents remain to be answered.     

Hypertension awareness,treatment and control rates for an Asian population: Results from a national survey in Korea

Objective. This observational study was performed in order to determine the hypertension awareness, treatment, and control rates for the country of Korea.

Methods. Rates were determined in conjunction with a national blood pressure survey in Korea in 1990. Through cluster sampling, individuals aged > 30 in 190/146 944 districts were selected for study. Among 25 567 eligible individuals, 21 242 had measurement of blood pressure (BP) and answered a standard questionnaire. BP was recorded as the mean of two measurements with a standard mercury manometer. Hypertension was defined either as BP ≥ 160/95 mm Hg or on treatment (n = 2628), or as BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg or on treatment (n = 4219). Treatment was defined as any method of BP treatment, including dietary, traditional, or medication.

Results. Rates for BP ≥ 160/95 mm Hg or on treatment: aware 1057 (40%), treated 696 (27%), controlled 367 (14%). Rates for BP ≥ 140/90 mm Hg or on treatment: aware 1069 (25%), treated 696 (16%), controlled 221 (5%).

Conclusions. Hypertension awareness, treatment, and control rates are relatively low in Korea. Blood‐pressure control programs, including detection strategies, are needed here and worldwide.     

Race,socioeconomic status and survival in three female cancers

Objectives. Although many studies have reported that socioeconomic status (SES) and race affect cancer survival, researchers have not established whether SES and race affect survival independently. The research reported here addresses this question with special attention to cancers affecting large numbers of women in the US.

Methods. The authors analyzed data on survival among patients in the Centralized Cancer Patient Data System (CCPDS) with cancers of the breast (n = 6896), cervix (n = 2209) and uterine corpus (n = 1492).

Results. According to Cox proportional hazards models, race predicted survival in all three cancers, while socioeconomic status predicted survival for cancers of the breast and uterine corpus. Interaction effects between race and SES were generally not statistically significant. This study includes larger numbers of observations within specific forms of cancer and covers a broader patient population than most previous investigations. These features promote detectability of SES effects, comparability among disease sites, and generalizability to cancer patients throughout the US.

Conclusions. Findings imply that SES and race affect cancer mortality risk independently of each other, and that the impact of SES and race may vary by malignancy. Survival disadvantages due to race—which may be more pronounced among women than men—should remain a continuing concern.     

Adiposity and blood pressure in a multiethnic population of women in Hawaii

Objective. To compare the amount and distribution of fat among White, Japanese, Filipino and Hawaiian women and to investigate associations between measures of adiposity and serum cholesterol and blood pressure.

Design. Cross‐sectional survey of adiposity, serum cholesterol and blood pressure of 421 volunteer women of White (N = 137), Japanese (N = 144), Filipino (N = 74) and Hawaiian (N = 66) ethnicities, age 25–35 years. Anthropométrie measures (weight; height; subscapular, bicep, tricep, suprailiac and calf skinfold thickness; waist, hip and mid‐upper arm circumferences), grip strength, serum cholesterol and blood pressure.

Results. Hawaiian women had the highest levels of adiposity by all measures. Asian women (especially Filipinos) had higher subscapular skinfold thicknesses than did Whites and, for the same value of body mass index (BMI), had a greater percentage of body fat. BMI was the strongest correlate of systolic blood pressure, while subscapular skinfold thickness was the strongest correlate of diastolic blood pressure. Blood pressure varied by adiposity but not ethnicity. No measures of body fat were associated with serum cholesterol.

Conclusion. Higher body fat measures, especially BMI, were associated with higher systolic blood pressure. However, higher subscapular skinfold (upper body) thickness was also associated with higher diastolic blood pressure. Subscapular fatness appears to be especially important among women of Asian ethnicity, Filipino women in particular.     

Coronary heart disease risk factors in black and white patients with non‐insulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus

Objective. To determine possible racial differences in risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD) in black and white patients with noninsulin‐dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

Methods: Study of risk factors for coronary heart disease among 308 subjects who met the WHO criteria for NIDDM.

Results. Both black and white patients were found to have a high prevalence of hypertension, obesity, low high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low leisure‐time physical activity levels, and an atherogenic dietary profile. Black males were more likely to have hypertension, reported a greater intake of dietary cholesterol, and had lower triglycerides, higher HDL cholesterol levels, a lower CHOL/HDL ratio, and a lower waist to hip ratio (WHR) than white males. Black females had higher mean arterial and diastolic blood pressures, had lower triglycerides, higher HDL cholesterol, a lower CHOL/HDL ratio, a higher subscapular/triceps ratio and lower reported leisure‐time energy expenditure compared to white females. There were no racial differences found for obesity level.

Conclusion. Our results indicate that racial differences in CHD risk factors exist among black and white patients with NIDDM. The complex genetic, sociocultural and environmental interactions involving CHD risk factors that contribute to the development of CHD may eventually provide clues to the etiology of the disease.     

Cultural variation in health locus of control

Objective. To compare health locus of control scores in women from different ethnic backgrounds.

Method. One‐hundred and twenty‐eight Caucasian, South Asian and Afro‐Caribbean women completed written or orally presented versions of the multidimensional health locus of control scale, as well as ratings of religiousness, health status and occupational status.

Results. South Asian women scored higher on ‘chance’ and ‘powerful others’ locus of control as predicted. They also had higher scores on internality. The ethnic differences persisted after controlling for occupation and health status. High religiousness among the South Asians appeared to explain some, but not all, of their higher scores.

Conclusion. South Asians may differ from British Caucasians in relation to their beliefs about internal and external influences on health.     

South Asian-White health inequalities in Canada: intersections with gender and immigrant status

Objectives. We apply intersectionality theory to health inequalities in Canada by investigating whether South Asian-White health inequalities are conditioned by gender and immigrant status in a synergistic way.

Design. Our dataset comprised 10 cycles (2001–2013) of the Canadian Community Health Survey. Using binary logistic regression modeling, we examined South Asian-White inequalities in self-rated health, diabetes, hypertension and asthma before and after controlling for potentially explanatory factors. Models were calculated separately in subsamples of native-born women, native-born men, immigrant women and immigrant men.

Results. South Asian immigrants had higher odds of fair/poor self-rated health, diabetes and hypertension than White immigrants. Native-born South Asian men had higher odds of fair/poor self-rated health than native-born White men and native-born South Asian women had lower odds of hypertension than native-born White women. Education, household income, smoking, physical activity and body mass index did little to explain these associations. The three-way interaction between racial identity, gender and immigrant status approached statistical significance for hypertension but not for self-rated health and asthma.

Conclusion. Our findings provide modest support for the intersectionally inspired principle that combinations of identities derived from race, gender and nationality constitute sui generis categories in the manifestation of health outcomes.     

Perceived Barriers to Following Dietary Recommendations in Hypertensive Patients

Objective: Hypertension (HTN) is one of the most important public health problems in the world. Lifestyle modification including dietary changes such as following the Dietary to Stop Hypertension (DASH) plan is the first step to control HTN. The aim of the present study was to identify perceived barriers to following dietary recommendations in hypertensive patients in Zanjan, Iran.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 outpatients (161 women, 39 men) with essential HTN (systolic blood pressure [SBP] ≥ 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure [DBP] ≥ 90 mmHg) were recruited from August to November 2012. A 29-item structured questionnaire was designed to assess perceived barriers to follow dietary recommendations. Validity and reliability were assessed by content validity index, content validity ratio, and Chronbach's alpha, respectively. An exploratory factor analysis with a principal component analysis extraction method and varimax rotation was performed to extract the underlying factors.

Results: Mean age and body mass index (BMI) of participants were 46.9 ± 5.5 years and 30.6 ± 3.6 kg/m², respectively. The exploratory factor analysis extracted 6 interpretable factors with eigenvalue > 1. In order of importance, they were social and environmental barriers (eigenvalue = 2.489), social gathering (eigenvalue = 2.379), compliance with recommended diet and preference of other family members (eigenvalue = 2.127), palatability of the recommended diet (eigenvalue = 1.972), emotional statues and psychological factors (eigenvalue = 1.921), and cost (eigenvalue = 1.845). Mentioned factors explained 44% of the total variance.

Conclusion: Patients with HTN in our study perceived some barriers to following the recommended diet. In nutritional counseling, considering these barriers may be effective in improving the dietary adherence level in hypertensive patients.     

Has psychological distress among UK South Asians been under‐estimated? A comparison of three measures in the west of Scotland population

Objectives. Previous work has shown low levels of psychological distress among UK South Asians, but some argue that the distress is under‐reported. The present paper assesses distress on one clinically validated measure (the 12‐item General Health Questionnaire), a psychosomatic measure and a self‐report measure.

Methods. Interviews of 159 South Asians in Glasgow aged 30–40 years, mean age 35 years and 319 from the general population, all aged 35 years.

Results. The three distress measures were moderately correlated and at the thresholds chosen there was no hierarchy of severity between them. Distress on the GHQ12 was at similar levels for all the social groups assessed, but distress on the psychosomatic measure and self‐assessment was higher for women, Muslims and limited English speakers.

Conclusions. Clinical measures may have under‐estimated distress in several South Asian groups. The results may be due to a preference for a particular language of emotion in the affected groups or to a higher frequency of stressful situations which provoke distinctive reactions.     

Social environment and substance misuse: A study of ethnic variations among inner London adolescents

Objectives. To explore ethnic variations in drug, tobacco and alcohol use and their correlation with other factors which operate through peer, familial and religious influences.

Design. Semi‐structured interviews with 132 12–13‐year‐old young people from four ethnic groups attending secondary schools in two inner London boroughs and a follow‐up interview completed approximately 17 months later.

Results. The data was analysed using chi‐square and McNemar tests. Familial, religious and peer influence closely correlated with ethnicity. Bangladeshi young people showed lower levels of peer and higher levels of religious and familial involvement and lower levels of substance use. White young people reported higher levels of peer, lower levels of religious and familial involvement, and a higher level of substance use. Black African and Black Caribbean young people lay between the two extremes.

Conclusion. The findings suggest that young people with lower levels of familial and religious influence, or higher levels of peer influence, have higher levels of substance consumption than other young people. Health education initiatives need to promote personal decision‐making skills within the context of the young people's individual culture. Cultural diversity should be recognised within local health education needs assessment.     

Personality and cardiovascular risk: Association between hypertension and affective temperaments—a cross-sectional observational study in primary care settings

Background: Affective temperaments can be considered the subclinical manifestations of affective disorders, which have a bidirectional relationship with cardiovascular diseases.

Objectives: Aim of this study was to assess the role of affective temperaments in primary hypertension, which is the leading risk factor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Methods: In total, 251 consecutive patients, including 179 patients being treated for primary hypertension with anti-hypertensives, with chronic disorders without diagnosed depression were enrolled in a primary care setting. Patients completed the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A). Lifestyle-related risk factors, chronic diseases including cardiovascular complications were also recorded. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship of affective temperaments and lifestyle-related risk factors on hypertension.

Results: Dominant cyclothymic temperament—with instability and rapid mood swings as main characteristics—had a significant association with hypertension (P = 0.006) even after the adjustment of correlation for known risk factors such as age, diabetes mellitus and obesity (OR: 11.88, 95%CI: 1.27–111.17). This association remained significant after controlling for the family wise error rate. The obtained adjusted P value was 0.024 at a 0.05 error rate.

Conclusion: Results indicate that dominant cyclothymic affective temperament may be an additional risk factor in cardiovascular morbidity, and it may be worthy of further assessment to identify patients at risk and formulate a more individualized treatment approach.     

Breast cancer histology in Caucasians,African Americans,Hispanics, Asians,and pacific islanders

Study objectives. To investigate the association between race/ethnicity and histologic types of breast cancer.

Design. Cross‐sectional study.

Setting. Population‐based data from the Northern California Tumor Registry, which is part of the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program.

Participants. A total of 2759 breast cancer cases diagnosed in 1988.

Main results. Tumors were classified as ductal, lobular, and mixed/unspecified carcinoma. Ductal carcinoma was the most common (83.6%) and lobular carcinoma was the rarest. Most cases were diagnosed in the localized stage (56.3%). Caucasian women had the highest rates of total breast cancer (240.9/100 000), ductal and lobular. In African‐American women, the odds of ductal carcinoma were twice that of lobular carcinoma, compared with Caucasian women (odds ratio [OR] = 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0–3.9) after adjusting for age, site, and stage at diagnosis. Similarly, Asian and Hispanic women also had higher, non‐statistically significant odds of ductal versus lobular carcinoma compared with Caucasians (OR = 1.8 [95% CI 0 9–3.7] and 1.6 [95% CI 0.8–3.4], respectively).

Conclusions. Future studies should investigate how racial/ethnic differences in histology among breast cancer patients will influence life expectancy, against a backdrop of health care access, sociocultural issues, lifestyle habits, reproductive history, family history, and tumor characteristics.     

Low Adherence to Dietary Guidelines in Spain,Especially in the Overweight/Obese Population: The ANIBES Study

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the dietary intake of the Spanish population according to ponderal status and body fat distribution.

Methods: Data were obtained from ANIBES (Anthropometry, Intake, and Energy Balance in Spain), a cross-sectional study of a nationally representative sample (1013 men, 996 women) of the Spanish population (18–64 years). The final fieldwork was carried out from mid-September to November (three months) 2013. A 3-day dietary record provided information about food and beverage consumption. Height, weight, and waist circumference were assessed, and body mass index (BMI) and waist–height ratio (WHtR) calculated.

Results: The Spanish population had a low consumption of fruits and vegetables, cereals, whole cereals, and dairy and high consumption of meat products. Individuals with overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²) and abdominal adiposity (WHtR ≥ 0.5) showed lower compliance with dietary guidelines. In the male group, adjusting by age, inadequate consumption of cereals (<4 servings/day) and vegetables and fruit (<5 servings/day) was associated with higher risk of overweight (odds ratio [OR] = 1.704, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.187–2.447, p = 0.001, for cereals and OR = 3.816, 95% CI, 1.947–7.480, p = 0.001, for vegetables and fruits) and abdominal adiposity (OR = 2.081, 95% CI, 1.419–3.053, p = 0.000 and OR = 4.289, 95% CI, 2.108–8.726, p = 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: Nutritional campaigns should be conducted to improve the dietary habits of the Spanish population in general, especially men, who have poorer ponderal status and abdominal adiposity, due to their lower adherence to dietary guidelines.     

Increased gallbladder‐related mortality among hispanics: Does education play a role?

Objective. Hispanics, particularly Mexican Americans, are known to have a higher incidence of mortalities whose underlying cause is a gallbladder‐related disorder. These analyses evaluate the role of educational attainment in the differential mortality experiences of these populations.

Methods. US mortality data for 1989–1991 were examined to determine ethnically‐specific death rates using ‘any mention’ of the disease on the death certificate.

Results. Age‐adjusted multiple cause mortality was found to be higher for all gallbladder‐related disorders among Hispanics, particularly Mexican Americans. Mortality due to gallbladder cancer, gallstones and ‘other gallbladder diseases’ were found to be inversely proportional to educational attainment in all ethnic groups. When both age and education were used to adjust mortality, the gallstone and other gallbladder disease mortality among Hispanics was non‐significantly higher than white, non‐Hispanics. However, mortality due to gallbladder cancer remained significantly higher among Hispanics.

Conclusion. Gallbladder cancer mortality is elevated in Hispanic populations, especially Mexican Americans, independent of educational attainment. However, increased mortality associated with gallstones or other gallbladder diseases among Hispanics may be partially due to differences in factors associated with educational attainment. Research and public health efforts to address these educational‐related factors may improve this mortality pattern among Hispanics.     

DHA status is positively related to motor development in breastfed African and Dutch infants

Objectives

Docosahexaenoic (DHA) and arachidonic (AA) acids are important for neurodevelopment. We investigated the relation between erythrocyte (RBC) DHA and AA contents and neurological development, by assessment of General Movements (GMs), in populations with substantial differences in fish intakes.

Methods

We included 3-month-old breastfed infants of three Tanzanian tribes: Maasai (low fish, n = 5), Pare (intermediate fish, n = 32), and Sengerema (high fish, n = 60); and a Dutch population (low–intermediate, fish, n = 15). GMs were assessed by motor optimality score (MOS) and the number of observed movement patterns (OMP; an MOS sub-score). RBC-DHA and AA contents were determined by capillary gas chromatography.

Results

We found no between-population differences in MOS. OMP of Sengerema infants (high fish) was higher than OMP of Dutch infants (low–intermediate fish). MOS related to age. OMP related positively to infant age (P < 0.001) and RBC-DHA (P = 0.015), and was unrelated to ethnicity and RBC-AA.

Discussion

The positive relation between RBC-DHA and the number of observed movement patterns of 3-month old infants might reflect the connection of DHA with motor development.