Zhou Yuan E, Kubow Stan, Egeland Grace M
School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition and the Centre for Indigenous People's Nutrition and Environment, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, H9X 3V9, Canada.
Int J Circumpolar Health. 2011;70(5):498-510. doi: 10.3402/ijch.v70i5.17864. Epub 2011 Oct 12.
Previous studies suggest that dietary patterns and the extent of reliance upon traditional food vary among Inuit communities. Inuit traditional foods are an important source of nutrients such as highly unsaturated n-3 fatty acids (HUFA n-3), whose beneficial effects include protection against ischemic heart disease. Dietary transition is occurring with younger generations consuming less traditional foods and more market foods with low nutrient density. Utilizing erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition as an indicator of body HUFA n-3 status, which reflects dietary intake levels of traditional Inuit foods, we explored the regional and age variability of highly unsaturated n-3 fatty acids (HUFA n-3) in the International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey.
Cross-sectional health survey.
Participants were recruited through random sampling of households. Fatty acid data were available among 2,200 adults (≥18 yr).
HUFA n-3 levels in the Eastern Arctic were significantly higher than in the Western Arctic, with Nunatsiavut (northern Labrador) and Baffin showing the highest HUFA n-3 status compared to Kivalliq, Kitikmeot and Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) (p<0.0001). Fatty acid proportion in erythrocyte membranes showed pronounced differences between coastal communities and inland communities, including a higher HUFA n-3 status among the coastal communities (p<0.0001). Additionally, the HUFA n-3 status showed a strong positive association with age, particularly in Baffin and Kivalliq. HUFA n-3 were inversely associated with saturated (β=-0.98 [SE=0.03], R2=0.36, p<0.0001) and trans fatty acids (β=-0.06 [SE=0.004], R2=0.07, p<0.0001).
The present study results provided biochemical support for varying dietary patterns and dietary transition among Inuit across the Canadian Arctic. The analyses also suggested multifactorial determinants of HUFA n-3 status among Canadian Arctic Inuit. A nutritional intervention strategy with multiple approaches may be needed to improve and maintain their HUFA n-3 status.
先前的研究表明，因纽特人社区的饮食模式以及对传统食物的依赖程度各不相同。因纽特人的传统食物是营养物质的重要来源，如高度不饱和的n-3脂肪酸（HUFA n-3），其有益作用包括预防缺血性心脏病。随着年轻一代食用的传统食物减少，而更多地食用营养密度低的市场食物，饮食转变正在发生。利用红细胞膜脂肪酸组成作为人体HUFA n-3状态的指标，该指标反映了因纽特人传统食物的饮食摄入水平，我们在国际极地年因纽特人健康调查中探讨了高度不饱和n-3脂肪酸（HUFA n-3）的区域和年龄差异。
横断面健康调查。
通过对家庭进行随机抽样招募参与者。2200名成年人（≥18岁）提供了脂肪酸数据。
北极东部的HUFA n-3水平显著高于北极西部，与基瓦利克、基蒂克米奥特和因纽维利特定居区（ISR）相比，努纳西亚武特（拉布拉多北部）和巴芬的HUFA n-3状态最高（p<0.0001）。红细胞膜中的脂肪酸比例在沿海社区和内陆社区之间存在显著差异，包括沿海社区的HUFA n-3状态更高（p<0.0001）。此外，HUFA n-3状态与年龄呈强正相关，特别是在巴芬和基瓦利克。HUFA n-3与饱和脂肪酸（β=-0.98 [标准误=0.03]，R2=0.36，p<0.0001）和反式脂肪酸（β=-0.06 [标准误=0.004]，R2=0.07，p<0.0001）呈负相关。
本研究结果为加拿大北极地区因纽特人不同的饮食模式和饮食转变提供了生化支持。分析还表明了加拿大北极地区因纽特人HUFA n-3状态的多因素决定因素。可能需要一种采用多种方法的营养干预策略来改善和维持他们的HUFA n-3状态。
