There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.
Abstract
The dietary intake was investigated and food sources were identified among Tunisian
ethnic groups from Jerba Island in the south of Tunisia.
Ninety-four subjects of moderate socioeconomic status (47 Berbers and 47 Arabs) aged
32 to 64 y completed a 1-mo qualitative food-frequency questionnaire and a single
24-h dietary recall, and dietary intakes and demographic status were observed from
2006 to 2007.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity was not significantly associated with Arab
men compared with Berber men. Therefore, obesity was significantly associated with
Berber women (P<0.001). Height was significantly different between Arab and Berber
women (P<0.001). There were no significant differences in energy intake between men
and women. Protein intake was not significantly different between ethnic groups. Milk
and dairy products in the Berber group were significantly different from the Arab
group. Intakes of calcium, zinc, iron, and folate were below recommended nutrient
intakes in men and women in the two ethnic groups. Vitamin E intake was greater in
Berbers than in Arabs (P<0.01).
Ethnicity was significantly associated with dietary intakes in the two ethnic groups
of Jerba Island.