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Inuit and vitamin D

Two articles from 2011 and many links on this page


Food Insecurity and Nutrition Transition Combine to Affect Nutrient Intakes in Canadian Arctic Communities. July 2011

J Nutr. 2011 Jul 13.
Egeland GM, Johnson-Down L, Cao ZR, Sheikh N, Weiler H.
Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment and School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada.

Food insecurity and the nutrition transition have been noted in arctic communities. We therefore evaluated biomarkers of nutritional status and nutrient intakes by TF and food security status among Inuit in Canada. A cross-sectional health survey of Inuit (?18 y) in 36 arctic communities was conducted in 2007-2008. Food security was assessed by 24-h dietary recalls using USDA questionnaires and nutrient intakes.

Biomarkers included serum 25(OH)D, hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and erythrocyte RBC FA. Analyses were stratified by past-day TF consumption (yes vs. no) and food security status (secure vs. insecure). Food insecurity was prevalent (62.6%) and associated with higher RBC trans-FA and lower hemoglobin levels and serum ferritin, whereas

TF consumption was associated with higher serum 25(OH)D, (n-3) FA, and serum ferritin (P ? 0.05).

In men, food insecurity was associated with lower intake of energy and energy-adjusted fiber, vitamin C, iron, zinc, and magnesium.

In women, food insecurity was associated with a higher intake of carbohydrates and lower intake of fiber, DFE, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, calcium, and __vitamin D_.

For both sexes, when TF was consumed, there was a higher intake of protein, protein-related micronutrients, and vitamins A and C and a lower intake of carbohydrates, saturated fat, and fiber and a lower sodium:potassium ratio (P ? 0.05). Nutrition transition and food insecurity are associated with a multifaceted shift in nutrient status and intakes with implications for increased risk of diet-sensitive chronic diseases.

PMID: 21753059
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Definitions:

  • TF (suspect) = traditional Food
  • Food security = availability of food and one's access to it.
    A household is considered food-secure when its occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation. (WikiPedia)

Vitamin D deficiency and disease risk among aboriginal Arctic populations - Aug 2011

Sangita Sharma 1, gita.sharma at ualberta.ca; Alison B Barr 2; Helen M Macdonald 3, Tony Sheehy 4, Rachel Novotny 5, Andre Corriveau 6
1 Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
2 Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, North Carolina, USA
3 Bone and Musculoskeletal Research Programme, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland
4 School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Republic of Ireland
5 Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
6 Alberta Health and Wellness, Government of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Nutrition Reviews, Volume 69, Issue 8, pages 468–478, August 2011

Aboriginal populations living above the Arctic Circle are at particularly high risk of vitamin D deficiency due to

  • limited ultraviolet B exposure (related to geographic latitude) and
  • inadequate dietary intake (recently related to decreased traditional food consumption).

Major changes in diet and lifestyle over the past 50 years in these populations have coincided with increased prevalence rates of

  • rickets,
  • cancer,
  • diabetes, and
  • obesity,

each of which may be associated with vitamin D inadequacy.
This review examines the risk factors for vitamin D inadequacy, the associations between vitamin D and disease risk at high geographic latitudes, and the recommendations for improving vitamin D status particularly among aboriginal Arctic populations. Traditional foods, such as fatty fish and marine mammals, are rich sources of vitamin D and should continue to be promoted to improve dietary vitamin D intake. Supplementation protocols may also be necessary to ensure adequate vitamin D status in the Arctic.


See also VitaminDWiki

See also web

  • Paleo Diet? How did the Inuit Thrive Vitamin D Survivor Jan 2013
    No lack of vitamins A, D, E in animal organs - which were eaten, and even considered to be a delacacy by many peoples around the world
  • Inuit Diet Wikipedia
    Inuits have large livers and lots of urine
    The fats they eat are high in Omega-3