ReeShema Britt, BS, BA, MPH(c); Yashika J. Watkins, PhD, MPH; Thomas Britt, MD, MPH Review of the Literature: Impact of GMOs on Health Outcomes for African Americans Genetically modified foods, genetically engineered foods, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are all one in the same. GMOs are food products that have been genetically altered to express favorable genes. At risk populations may have adverse health effects due to the nutritional content of foods. Evidence has proven that minority populations, such as African Americans, are disproportionately burdened with several diet diseases e.g. obesity and diabetes nationally. According to a study published in 2003, television viewing has been linked to obesity. In the same article, food messages from TV shows have the potential to lead African Americans to poor food choices of low nutrient content, e.g. candy and soda. In addition, African Americans are exposed to three times more low nutrient foods than general population food advertisements. According to Karmeen D. Kulkarni, African Americans have a 1.6 times increased rate for type II diabetes than that of the national population. Decade of established evidence revealed a link between high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) consumption causes obesity and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the U.S. Research supports that diet is a key contributor to health disparities in chronic diseases and conditions within racial and ethnic minority groups. These groups have poorer nutrient diets as compared to Caucasians. GMO Adverse Health Effects Celiac Patients still affected w/Chronic Diarrhea after Gluten Free Diets (GFD) Small Intestinal Bacterial Growth (SIBO) Gastro-Intestinal Symptoms Low Nutritional content Cardiovascular disease Obesity/Weight Gain Cravings to eat more Metabolic Syndrome Infertility Diabetes Cancer Minority populations, e.g. African Americans may disproportionately suffer from the aforementioned conditions because of their poor socioeconomic status and diets that contain a higher percentage of GMOs. Therefore awareness and education about GMOs’ needs to be addressed to ameliorate health disparities, especially within minority populations: African Americans. Conclusion 1.Study e vidence reveals that GMOs cause adverse health problems in humans, e.g., diarrhea, small intestinal bacterial growth (SIBO), gastro-intestinal symptoms, cardiovascular disease, obesity/weight gain, cravings to eat more, metabolic syndrome, infertility, diabetes, and cancer. 2. A Research study discovered that African American teens were targeted for a greater percentage of advertisements (commercials and within the TV shows) on poor/low nutrient foods content, e.g. candy and soda than Caucasians teens, 50.9% and 38.1% respectively. 3. A different study shown that African American children (age 8-18 ) watched 48% more TV than Caucasian children and those food messages (within the TV shows and characters) may be promoting obesity, within this minority group. 4. A new study on gluten free diets (GFD), learned that celiac patients developed small intestine bacterial growth (SIBO) in their intestines, but became symptom free at the end of their study of gluten free diets (GFD). Gluten is a wheat protein that is found in breads. Most ingredients found in bread are a result of genetic engineering. 5. One article and one study discussed how ingesting High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), which is a low nutrient low cost sweetener, may cause leptin levels to decrease. The reduced leptin levels will cause an individual’s appetite to intensify. Leptin is a naturally produced hormone that sole purpose is to curb appetite, while low levels will stimulate more eating. 6. High fructose corn syrup has made one third of American adults obese, since their introduction, according to CDC. 7. In a European study, 44% of the subjects’ urine samples contained glyphosate (active ingredient in Round-up), that originated from GMO food sources. 8. A Dallas-Ft. Worth study discussed how 13 out of 78 patients studied, still had diarrhea after the end of their 12 month treatment intervention (GFDs), while one patient still had anti-gliadin antibodies present in their small intestines. Gliadin is a wheat protein. Background (Relevant Studies)Results A meta-analysis approach was employed by team members using electronic databases, current and past journals, and bibliographies of relevant articles. Forty-eight sources were identified from Keywords used were national income division among races, GMO testing/methods, GMO health risks, GMO allergy effects, African Americans common diseases, health disparities, obesity and African Americans, food advertisements and African Americans, wheat and obesity, GMO foods, celiac disease and GMOs, GMOs and juices, gliadin and GMOs, gluten and GMOs, high fructose corn syrup, and cereal with GMOs. Information was analysed according to whether it pertained to GMOs health related risks, food advertisements, health disparities among minority populations, and other relevant topics. This was accomplished in 3 different stages. First, papers were reviewed by title, then by abstract, and finally by full text. In each stage, irrelevant articles were excluded. There were a total of thirty-five relevant articles used in this presentation. Methods Introduction Antonio Tursi, M. G. (2003). High Prevalence of Small Intestinal Bacteria Overgrowth of Celiac Patients With Persistence of Gastrointestinal Symptoms After Gluten Withdrawal. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, Kay Parker, M. S. (2010). High Fructose Corn Syrup:Production, Uses and Public Health Concerns. Biotechnology and Molecular Biology Review, Kenneth D. Fine, R. L. (1997). The Prevalence and Causes of Chronic Diarrhea in Patients with Celiac Sprue Treated with a Glute-Free Diet. Gastroenterology, Lisa M. P:owell, P. G. (2007). Nutritional Content of Television Food Advertisements Seen by Children and Adolescents in the United States. Pediatrics, Manasi A. Tirodkar, M. a. (2003). Food Message on African American Television Shows. American Journal of Public Health, Parker, H. (2010). A Sweet Problem: Princeton researchers find that high- fructose corn syrup prompts considerably more weight gain. Princeton, NewJersey: Princeton University. Seneff, A. S. (2013). Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases II:Celiac Sprue and gluten intolerance. Interdisciplinary Toxicology, =690&bih=639&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAgQ_AUoA2oVChMIl 8HU8f7qyAIVA9g-Ch2- ZwsO#tbm=isch&q=obesity+among+african+american+hispanics+and+white s Sources This project was enhanced by Thomas E Britt, MD, MPH and Yashika J.Watkins, PhD, MPH. This abstract is an inter-collegiate collaboration between UAMS and CSU. Acknowledgements Black Prime Time vs General Prime Time Manasi A. Tirodkar, M. a. (2003). Food Message on African American Television Shows. American Journal of Public Health,

ReeShema Britt Yashika Watkins Thomas Britt