Dietary habits among men and women in West Greenland: follow-up on the ACCEPT birth cohort

Abstract

Background In the past decades, the diet in Greenland has been in transition resulting in a lower intake of traditional food and a higher intake of imported western food. This diet transition can affect public health negatively, and thus, continued monitoring of dietary habits is important. The present study aimed to follow up on the dietary habits of pregnant women included in the Greenlandic ACCEPT birth cohort (2013–2015) and the children’s father. Methods The follow-up food intake was assessed in 2019–2020 using food frequency questionnaires for 101 mothers and 76 fathers aged 24–55 years living in Nuuk, Sisimiut, and Ilulissat. Non-parametric statistical methods were used (Mann-Whitney U test/Spearman correlation) to assess the dietary pattern and influencing factors. Results The proportion of traditional and imported food was 14 and 86%, respectively. Intake frequency differed by gender (vegetables, fruits, fast food), the living town (terrestrial animals, vegetables, fruits), and age (fish, meat products, fruits, fast food). Socioeconomic and lifestyle factors significantly correlated with the intake frequency of several traditional and imported foods. Few changes in the mother’s dietary habits from inclusion (during pregnancy) to follow-up (3–5 years later) were found, showing less frequent intake of seabirds and fruits and more frequent meat intake. Conclusion We identified several factors that could affect dietary habits, and the results may be used to target future food recommendation for relevant population groups.

Prenatal exposure to persistent organic pollutants and metals and problematic child behavior at 3–5 years of age: a Greenlandic cohort study

“…This might be explained by differences in lifestyle, with higher intake of traditional diet consisting of more predatory fish and marine mammals in Sisimiut/Ilulissat, in addition to a higher smoking prevalence in Sisimiut/Ilulissat (30.3%) compared to Nuuk (15.9%), since smoking can contribute to the body level of POPs and metals 74 . Differences in food intake between regions in Greenland have been observed before, both in the ACCEPT cohort as well as in other studies 27 , 28 , 75 , 76 . Differences in smoking have also been observed 27 , 28 .…”

Occupational asthma and allergy in the Greenlandic fish processing industry

“…This is lower than earlier measurements obtained in Greenland (126,127) but higher than measurements from 2010-2015 among pregnant Greenlandic women (128). Overall, comparison of the measurements indicates that Se levels are declining in Greenland, especially among men and in the capital of Greenland, Nuuk, (129) due to a more Westernised lifestyle with a less frequent intake of a Se-rich diet (89,91). In continuation hereof, we found lower s-Se levels among workers from large factories in the larger towns than among workers from smaller factories in smaller settlements (132).…”

“…Traditional Inuit food mainly consists of sea mammals, fish, local land mammals and berries opposed to the Danish/imported products which consists of meet, bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, fruit, vegetables, sweets, and junk food (89). It is known that traditional food constitutes a larger part of the diet in the settlements than in the larger towns, supporting statements regarding increasing atopy and asthma prevalence being due to a more Westernised lifestyle (90,91).…”

“…Hence, traditional Inuit food is Se rich and has contributed with a considerable proportion of the Inuit Se intake. In recent decades, the Inuit population of Greenland has adopted a more Westernised lifestyle with a higher intake of Se poor foods (91,127). At the same time, Se levels have been measured in both humans and the marine environment in Greenland.…”

“…The difference is likely caused by different contributions from traditional food and other sources (129). Thus, Wielsøe et al showed that Inuit women eat more fruit and vegetables than males (91). Se levels in the marine environment are shown to remain stable, indicating that the cause of decreasing Se levels in humans should be found in lesser intake of Serich traditional food (127,129).…”