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At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Coronary heart disease in Greenland Inuit: a paradox. Implications for western diet patterns.

Epidemiologic examinations of Greenland Inuit have disclosed a connection between high seafood intake containing a high level of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and a low coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity. Other epidemiologic studies have confirmed this interrelation, and a biological substrate for a causal relationship has been established. This includes a lipid lowering effect of n-3 PUFAs and a modulatory effect on eicosanoid metabolism, shifting platelet vessel wall balance in an antithrombotic direction. Other metabolic effects of n-3 PUFAs are an altered inflammatory response to proinflammatory stimuli and a modest hypotensive effect. These findings create a basis for controlled clinical studies and justify, in the author's opinion, both a mass strategy of advocating that a well-balanced diet should include a higher use of seafood in Western diets, and a more intensive recommendation of n-3 PUFAs in certain high-risk patients with a heterogeneous risk-factor profile. Among these, patients with essential hypertension and patients undergoing reconstructive coronary intervention are obvious candidates. A major outcome of the research, stemming from the epidemiological studies, is establishment of the fact that separate attention should be paid to both the n-6 and the n-3 fatty acids.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Complete heart block in an Inuit family.

An Inuit family from Cape Dorset, Northwest Territories is described; six had documented complete heart block, one high grade atrioventricular block, one bi- or trifascicular block and all suffered syncope. One other member received a pacemaker for unknown reasons. Two of three middle-aged relatives had minor conduction abnormalities. All younger family members who were examined had no conduction problems. This suggests a heritable form of adult onset complete heart block, the largest series reported in the English literature.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Factors associated with high-risk pregnancies in Canadian Inuit.

Antenatal risk factors and management problems during labour and delivery were examined for 141 consecutive deliveries in Canadian Inuit of the eastern Arctic. The applicability of three risk scoring systems for antenatal use was evaluated. Pregnancies were categorized as being at high, moderate or low risk according to the authors' published criteria. Only two of the systems gave statistically valid predictions of the outcome of pregnancy in terms of risk categorization. Sensitivity and uniformity of the systems were lacking: the risk scores were low in 32% to 58% of the pregnancies in which the mother or the infant or both had problems during labour or delivery or both, and in 27% to 36% of the pregnancies in which the infant alone had problems. Antepartum factors that indicated a significantly increased risk of problems during labour or delivery or both were maternal age less than 16 or more than 35 years, prevous stillbirth or neonatal death, previous birth weight of less than 2501 g, previous pastpartum hemorrhage or other problem in the third stage of labour, antituberculosis therapy in the mother, and any of antepartum hemorrhage, multiple pregnancy, breech delivery, malpresentation or long period between rupture of the membranes and delivery in the current pregnancy. The data indicate that scoring systems should take into account regional or population variations if they are to have reasonable sensitivity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

The Nakasuk Project- the conservative treatment of chronic otitis media in Inuit elementary school children.

Modalities of local medical treatment of chronic otitis media in Inuit elementary school children were evaluated over a period of three and a half years in a project associated with the provision of amplification (hearing aids) for students who had significant conductive hearing deficits which interfered with their ability to communicate. The significant medical and educational benefits derived are reviewed.

Acetates↗
PubMed1981

The evolving attitude in Canada toward the management of chronic otitis media in the Inuit population.

The reasons for the high incidence of otitis media in the Inuit population are described. The disorder seems to be related to socio-economic conditions including the adoption of many Caucasian habits such as overcrowded housing and bottle feeding. The relative merits of improving socio-economic conditions combined with medical treatment, and of medical treatment alone, and surgical treatment are outlined.

Attitude to Health↗
PubMed1995

Growth patterns of Canadian Inuit children. A longitudinal study.

A longitudinal study has examined the growth of height, sitting height, body mass and triceps skinfolds in a sample of Inuit (281 boys and 266 girls) attending the Igloolik school between the years 1981 and 1989. Heights were around the 10th percentile of U.S. norms for 1970. A peak height velocity of 9.2 +/- 2.3 cm/year was reached by girls at 11.3 +/- 0.7 years, and in boys the peak rate of 8.6 +/- 3.7 cm/year was seen at 13.5 +/- 0.8 years. Sitting heights were also low relative to urban norms. Body mass approached the 50th percentile of U.S. norms, giving a large mass for height ratio at all ages. Triceps thicknesses for the girls were around the 10th percentile of urban norms, and in the boys began around the 25th percentile, but dropped steadily to the 5-10th percentile. No significant differences of growth patterns were seen between cohorts formed from students born in the years 1970/72, 1973/74 and 1975/76. However, comparison with earlier cross-sectional surveys in the same community showed a secular trend to greater stature and greater skinfold readings as the community had become acculturated to such features of modern living as mechanized transport and television. There were no systematic differences of growth rates between the summer and the winter seasons, and nutrition was good throughout. We thus conclude that the short stature has an inherited basis. Attention is drawn to the problem of interpreting curves of growth and weight for height in populations with an unusual body build.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Acculturation and loss of fitness in the Inuit: the preventive role of active leisure.

The association between active leisure pursuits and various indices of fitness has been examined in 165 males aged 13-39 years and 95 females aged 13-29 years, all Inuit residents of the community of Igloolik, NWT (69 degrees 40'N). The active individuals have largely conserved the high level of fitness that characterized the settlement in 1969/70, showing substantial advantages over their sedentary peers in terms of relative aerobic power (27.7%, males, 21.3%, females) and subcutaneous fat (18.3%, males, 5.9%, females), with a lesser trend to advantages of strength (handgrip force, 4.4%, males, 0.8% females; knee extension force, 8.3%, males, 2.0%, females). Much of their continued aerobic fitness can probably be attributed to physical activity although in the boys aged 13-16 years, a further factor is the selection of active leisure pursuits by tall, heavy and early maturing individuals. Both the lower body fat and the larger aerobic power are likely to have positive implications for future health. The current challenge is thus to increase the proportion of physically active villagers beyond the current 18.8% of males and 11.6% of females.

Acculturation↗
PubMed1995

Pneumatization and otitis media in Greenlandic Inuit before European colonization.

A total of 127 Greenlandic Inuit crania from before the European colonization of Greenland and deriving from the West (W), Southeast (SE), and Northeast (NE) coast of Greenland were examined for sequelae of infectious middle ear disease (IMED) and for a relationship between the size of the pneumatized cell area in the temporal bones and cranial morphology. IMED was inferred from the area size of the pneumatized cell system as seen on x-rays. The crania were classified into IMED or non-IMED by applying a statistical model on the distribution of areas. The model designated six crania (4.7%, 95% CI: 1.8-10.0%) as having had IMED, four from the W, one from the SE, and one from the NE. This is lower than the present frequency of IMED in Greenland. One cranium revealed pathology resembling that caused by chronic inflammation (e.g., from cholesteatoma or cancer). The area sizes differed significantly between sexes and between regions, as did some of the cranial measures. This indicated a relationship between cranial morphology and the area size. However, in a multiple regression analysis, cranial morphology only explained 5 to 7% (R2) of the variability in the areas.

Archaeology↗
PubMed1996

The Inuit diet. Fatty acids and antioxidants, their role in ischemic heart disease, and exposure to organochlorines and heavy metals. An international study.

Traditional food is culturally, economically and nutritionally important for the Greenlandic Inuit people. In the 1970s the preventive effect of marine fat on cardiovascular disease, thrombosis and atherosclerosis was described. The low incidence of ischemic heart disease among Greenlanders has been related to the high intake of marine food. Since 1990 routine autopsies have taken place in two towns in Greenland, Nuuk and Ilulissat. The autopsies represent 26% of the total number of deaths in these two towns. Samples have been collected from 104 autopsies. International cooperative studies have analysed specimens in relation to ischemic heart disease as a benefit related to diet, as well as the level of heavy metals and organochlorine in organs as a risk related to diet. High amounts of mono-unsaturated and Omega-3 poly-unsaturated fatty acid were found in adipose tissue. Liver analyses of selenium have confirmed the expected high intake among Greenlanders. Reduced atherosclerotic lesions were found in the coronary arteries. Blood pressure levels calculated from renovascholopathia of hypertension indicate prevailing levels similar to those in industrialized countries. Some factors in Greenland may be protecting the coronary arteries, thereby of setting the expected effect of hypertension. The level of methyl mercury in organs is generally high. PCB concentrations found in organs of Greenlanders are higher than among other populations. Health and risk effects of the traditional foods need further investigation.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1996

Health care in North must acknowledge Inuit values, traditional medicine.

Dr. Gail Gray spent a week on Baffin Island in a retreat devoted to discussions about health care delivery in the North. She says it is obvious that traditional medical practices and Inuit cultural values must be part of any new health care initiatives if the initiatives are to be successful.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed1986

Rheumatic diseases in an Inuit population.

Prevalence and incidence rates for rheumatic diseases were found to be minimal among the Inuit people in the Keewatin District of the Northwest Territories, Canada. Patient identification was achieved by a review of medical records. All identified patients were interviewed and examined by a participating rheumatologist. Among women, the prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis, adjusted for age of the Manitoba population, was 1,822 per 100,000 and was comparable with that observed in other populations; no cases of rheumatoid arthritis in men were confirmed. The age-adjusted prevalence of osteoarthritis, 1,219 per 100,000 in men and 2,144 per 100,000 in women, was apparently low. A moderately high incidence of Reiter's syndrome, 24.9 per 100,000, was found. The findings in children suggested a high frequency of seronegative spondylarthropathies (yearly incidence 60.1 per 100,000), although the adjusted yearly incidence for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis also appeared to be high, 23.6 per 100,000. The frequencies of HLA antigens in patient groups were compared with those found in 19 patients with musculoskeletal complaints but no rheumatic disease. Both HLA-B27 and HLA-DR4 appeared to be common in these controls, 36.8% and 63.2%, respectively. Nevertheless, there was a higher frequency of HLA-B27 in patients with seronegative spondylarthropathies (87%) than in controls (P = 0.001). Because of the small numbers of patients who had rheumatoid arthritis, no associations with HLA were made for this condition. Although the findings suggest differences in the distribution of rheumatic diseases compared with those found in other populations, more complete studies are required to confirm these observations.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Y-chromosomal STR haplotypes in Inuit and Danish population samples.

Nineteen Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (STRs), DYS19, DYS389-I, DYS389-II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385, DYS388, DYS434, DYS435, DYS436, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS460, DYS461 and DYS462 were typed in Inuit (n=70) and Danish (n=62) population samples.

Chromosomes, Human, Y↗
PubMed1992

Cold, fitness and the exercise electrocardiogram. A 20 year longitudinal study of Canadian Inuit.

A 20 year longitudinal study has examined fitness, lung function and exercise electrocardiograms in the Inuit of Igloolik (NWT, 69 degrees 40' N). When first examined (1969/70), an energy expenditure of up to 16 MJ/day was estimated from Kofranyi-Michaelis respirometry. Step test predictions of maximal oxygen intake were also high initially, but values declined progressively with acculturation to a sedentary lifestyle. Throughout the 20 years, right-branch bundle block (RBBB) has been somewhat more prevalent than in southern Canada. The majority of those affected have shown no more than slight R-wave notching. In 1969/70, a few of the more marked cases of RBBB may have been attributable to chronic respiratory disease, but the majority of cases have shown high normal values for both lung function and maximal oxygen intake. We thus conclude that the major cause of RBBB in this community is a ventricular hypertrophy due to the vigorous physical demands of the traditional lifestyle.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Brucellosis in an inuit child, probably related to caribou meat consumption.

A 9-year-old Inuit boy with brucellosis is presented. The most likely source of his infection was contaminated caribou meat. Brucella suis is enzootic in Canadian caribou herds and this case indicates that natives of the Arctic are a risk group for acquiring brucellosis through the ingestion of raw caribou meat.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Food Use and Nutrient Adequacy in Baffin Inuit Children and Adolescents.

In evaluating adequacy of nutrient intake and relative contribution of locally harvested food (i.e., "traditional" food) and imported market food for 164 Baffin Inuit children and adolescents, 604 24-hour recalls were obtained over a one-year period (1987 to 1988). Market food contributed an average of 84% of dietary energy and traditional food, 16%. Total and saturated fat intakes corresponded closely to current recommendations, while sucrose intakes were higher than recommended. Most age and gender categories had a low prevalence of inadequate intakes of iron, zinc, and protein; over 50% of dietary iron and zinc was provided by traditional food. Calcium and vitamin A were obtained largely through market food, and there was a high risk of inadequacy for both nutrients in all age groups. The diets of 16-18-year-old girls were the most often inadequate, due to high consumption of low nutrient-dense food and low consumption of traditional food. Food items rich in vitamin A and calcium should be promoted, and 16-18-year-old girls specifically targeted for education on food choices and health.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1977

Type A and type B botulism in the North: first reported cases due to toxin other than type E in Alaskan Inuit.

Botulism outbreaks shown to be due to type A and type B toxin occurred in Alaska, a region previously known for only type E botulism. The outbreak due to type A toxin involved three people, two of whom died. The outbreak due to type B toxin involved nine people, none of whom died. Both outbreaks were in Inuit villages, and native foods were incriminated. The occurrence of these outbreaks strongly suggests that Clostridium botulinum, types A and B are indigenous to Alaska. The outbreaks underscore the need for initial treatment of patients with antitoxin that is trivalent (ABE), even in Arctic regions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

A pilot beta-carotene intervention trial with Inuits using smokeless tobacco.

The frequency of exfoliated cells with micronuclei (MNC) was used to estimate the genotoxic effect of smokeless tobacco (snuff) on the oral mucosa and to follow the response to the administration of beta-carotene (180 mg/week, given twice weekly in 6 capsules of 30 mg each). The pilot trial was carried out with Inuits in Gjoa Haven, Northwest Territories, Canada. Their traditional diet, which is rich in caribou and seal meat and liver but low in vegetables and fruits, leads to "normal" serum levels of retinol (447 ng/ml in non-users of tobacco and 463 ng/ml in tobacco users) but low levels of beta-carotene (57 ng/ml for non-users of tobacco and 47 ng/ml for users). Prior to the twice-weekly administration of beta-carotene, the frequency of MNC was 1.87% +/- 0.92 (n = 23) in the mucosa of the lower gingival groove where the tobacco was usually kept. It decreased significantly (P less than 0.001) to 0.74% +/- 0.42 following the 10-week oral administration of beta-carotene capsules. The frequency of MNC did not change significantly in the group receiving a placebo and in snuff users who received no treatment over the 10-week trial period. The size and morphological appearance of the typical snuff-related, whitish, wrinkled patches of the mucosa where the tobacco was kept was not affected by the 10-week treatment with beta-carotene. Similarly, no reduction was observed in the frequency of anucleated, exfoliated mucosa cells. Beta-carotene appears to be an efficient inhibitor of MNC in the oral mucosa of snuff users who do not suffer from any vitamin A deficiency and who have "normal" levels of retinol.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

High serum coenzyme Q10, positively correlated with age, selenium and cholesterol, in Inuit of Greenland. A pilot study.

Greenlanders (Eskimos) have low prevalence of ischaemic heart disease, partly explained by a lower extent of atherosclerosis and a low n-6/n-3 ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids. As atherosclerosis is also a result of oxidative stress, the total antioxidative readiness could have a substantial impact. From a health survey we chose the subpopulation from the most remote area, where the traditional Greenlandic diet with high intake of sea mammals and fish predominates. The mean (SD) of S-CoQ10 in males was 1.495 (0.529) nmol/ml and 1.421 (0.629) nmol/ml in females, significantly higher (p < 0.001) compared to a Danish population. In a linear multiple regression model the S-CoQ10 level is significantly positively associated with age and S-selenium in males, and S-total cholesterol in females. The high level of CoQ10 in Greenlanders probably reflects diet, since no bioaccumulation takes place, and it could probably be a substantial part of the antioxidative defense.

Adult↗