Implications for Dietary Guideline Policy of a Cultural Adaptation of the US Dietary Guidelines for Women of Mexican Descent: A Pilot Study

Background/Objectives: This study aims to evaluate whether the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) are effective for maintaining a healthy diet among Mexican-descent populations in the US or if a more culturally tailored policy approach is warranted. Methods: As a first outcome, 20 healthy women of Mexican descent from the Seattle area participated in a pilot randomized controlled trial. They were randomly assigned (10 participants each) to either a group receiving instruction on the standard 2015 DGA or a group receiving an adaptation of the DGA focused on traditional Mexican cuisine and culture. In this 12-week study (with follow-ups at 3 and 6 months), participants’ acceptability of the cultural adaptation of the DGA was compared with that of the standard DGA with end-of-study surveys. Ten blood-based metabolic biomarkers were assessed at baseline and 3 months. Dietary changes at 3 months were assessed with a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) that was translated into Spanish but not culturally adapted. The secondary outcome was dietary change at 6 months. Results: The primary findings at 3 months showed that serum free fatty acids were reduced for the standard DGA arm. Carbohydrate consumption was reduced in the standard DGA arm only. The end-of-study survey results suggested that both interventions were well received by participants. Conclusions: The preliminary findings from this small sample size suggest that depending on a person’s priorities, either intervention could be offered, with each arm showing slightly different dietary and biomarker outcomes.