Fatty Acid Consumption and Metabolic Syndrome Components: The GOCADAN Study

Abstract

Fatty acids (FAs) have been related to changes in glucose and lipid metabolism. In this article, the authors assess the association between intake of specific FAs and components of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in adult Eskimos. A total of 691 Inupiat Eskimos (325 men and 366 women), aged 34 to 75 years, were examined as part of the Genetics of Coronary Artery Disease in Alaska Natives (GOCADAN) study. The investigation included a physical examination, blood pressure measurements, blood sampling under fasting conditions, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test, and a personal interview including a validated food frequency questionnaire. Components of MS were defined according to the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel criteria. Consumption of individual FAs showed associations with MS components. Long-chain omega-3 FAs, from fish and sea mammals, were associated with lower blood pressure, serum triglycerides, and 2-hour glucose and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting insulin, and homeostasis model assessment. Saturated fat consumption was associated with higher triglyceride levels and blood pressure. Trans-FA consumption was associated with higher blood pressure. Consumption of long-chain omega-3 FAs from marine sources may improve certain MS components, and thus may reduce risk for cardiovascular disease. High consumption of saturated FAs and trans-FAs may have an adverse effect on MS.

Fish consumption, omega-3 fatty acids, and environmental contaminants in relation to low-grade inflammation and early atherosclerosis

“…This contradictory result could be, at least partly explained by environmental contaminants since a similar adverse trend has been observed previously among the Inuit (Ebbesson et al, 2007) who are known to eat a lot of potentially contaminated marine mammals and fish. Regarding non-dietary exposure, an increasing insulin resistance has been observed among residents near a closed pentachlorophenol and chlor-alkali factory along with increasing serum PCDD/F and blood mercury concentrations (Chang et al, 2010) and among Vietnam veterans (Kern et al, 2004) along with increasing serum TCDD concentration.…”

Patterns of Food Consumption are Associated with Obesity, Self-Reported Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in Five American Indian Communities

“…These findings might be due to the increased consumption of energy-dense convenience junk foods and the decreased consumption of traditional foods (Compher 2006). Ebbesson and colleagues (2007) found a correlation between saturated fat and cardiovascular disease among AI (Ebbesson et al 2007). A study conducted with Native Canadians found a significant association between food consumption patterns of items such as butter, bread, and junk food as well as food preparation techniques with diabetes and obesity (Gittelsohn et al 1998 In order to develop targeted interventions, it is important to understand overall dietary patterns and their influences on obesity and other chronic diseases among AI/AN.…”

The legacy of the Alaska Siberia Medical Research Program: a historical perspective

“…Our studies have shown no such association between marine ω-3 FA consumption and the presence of CHD (63). On the other hand, our studies show that over-consumption of saturated FAs is associated with the presence and extent of carotid plaque (78) and with other CVD risk factors such as glucose intolerance (59,67,82), blood pressure (67,77) and elevated heart rate (83,84). These findings support the prospective studies by Vessby's group in Sweden that recently showed a direct link between serum levels of the saturated myristic and palmitic FAs and cardiovascular mortality (89).…”

“…Thus, although the value of ω-3 FA consumption is well known to reduce cardiovascular mortality, it appears not to be related to preventing atherosclerotic plaque as previously thought, but rather to reducing arrhythmia, sudden death (90), blood pressure (66,77) and heart rate (83) and improving plaque stability (91) and glucose tolerance (66,67,77,82,83).…”

“…V Cherapanova worked with R Elsner on the diving reflex (49) and Y Nikitin and Shubnikov worked with me and other members of the Alaska team on diabetes (DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55)(56)(57)(58)(59)(60)(61)(62)(63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68)(69). The Genetics of Coronary Artery Disease (GOCADAN) study evolved from the ASMRP and continues to this day (70)(71)(72)(73)(74)(75)(76)(77)(78)(79)(80)(81)(82)(83)(84). The ASMRP also spawned the birth of true participatory research in Alaska (50,56) and collaboration with researchers working with Inuit in Greenland and Canada (61,62,68,74).…”