Serum calcium in Greenland Eskimos.

Serum calcium i Greenland Eskimos living in Greenland is significantly lower than in Greenland Eskimos and Danes living in Denmark (p less than 0.001). Danes living in Greenland show intermediate values. High vitamin D levels have been found in Eskimos (Canada). Thus vitamin D deficiency is probably not the cause of the low serum calcium levels. A low dietary intake of calcium is a more likely explanation, consistent with the finding of high serum calcium in Greenland Eskimos living in Denmark, especially in adolescents with high consumption of dairy products. The low serum calcium in Greenland Eskimos may explain the early onset of osteoporosis, which is a common trait in Eskimos from all over the Arctic.