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Vitamin D status among Yup’ik Eskimos of Western Alaska is influenced by traditional food intake: the CANHR Study
Author(s) -
Bersamin Andrea,
Luick Bret,
Stanhope Kimber,
Stern Judith S
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.21.6.lb61-a
Subject(s) - vitamin d and neurology , calcium , vitamin , population , endocrinology , medicine , environmental health
The calcium and vitamin D status of Yup’ik Eskimos living in remote communities is of concern because of reported low levels of calcium in the diet and the seasonal lack of sunlight. Although a number of studies have reported calcium intake few have reported dietary or plasma vitamin D levels. Our objective was to estimate the vitamin D status of 424 male and female Yup’ik Eskimos (age 14 to 94) and to determine the contribution of traditional foods to the status. Dietary data and fasting blood samples were collected‐ the latter was analyzed for vitamin D and PTH concentrations. Mean dietary calcium and vitamin D was 396 ± 285 mg/d and 14.5 ± 17.9 ug/d respectively. Mean total plasma vitamin D and PTH was 37.3 ± 16.2 ng/ml and 7.66 ± 3.92 pg/ml respectively. Traditional foods (primarily fish and seal oil) accounted for more than two thirds of dietary vitamin D. Significant inverse relationships were observed between PTH and traditional food intake and between PTH and plasma vitamin D, but not between calcium intake and PTH. Calcium intake was significantly inversely related to traditional food intake. Given the tenuous calcium status of Yup’ik Eskimos, traditional foods, which are a rich source of vitamin D, may be prove to be a critical factor in calcium balance. The impact of a increased dependence on Western foods may have a significant impact on both vitamin D and calcium status in this population.μμ