Unique patterns of dietary adequacy in three cultures of Canadian Arctic indigenous peoples

Abstract

Background: Information is needed on dietary adequacy of Arctic indigenous populations in Canada. Extensive work has been completed on composition of Arctic food and food use, and dietary reference intakes are available. Objective: To complete the first comprehensive dietary adequacy assessment of three populations of adult Arctic indigenous people. Setting and subjects: Dietary assessment interviews were conducted with randomly selected indigenous adults during two seasons in 44 representative communities of Yukon First Nations (n 5 797), Dene/Métis, (n 5 1007) and Inuit (n 5 1525). Methods: Twenty-four-hour recalls were used to derive adjusted distributions of usual nutrient intakes in four age/gender groups for assessment of dietary adequacy for carbohydrate, dietary fibre, protein, n-3 fatty acids, n-6 fatty acids, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, vitamin A, riboflavin, folate, vitamin B 6 , vitamin C, vitamin D and vitamin E. Results: Nutrients with high prevalence of adequacy for most age/gender groups in all three cultures were protein, carbohydrate, n-3 fatty acids, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, selenium, riboflavin and vitamin B 6 ; some individuals exceeded the upper intake level for iron, zinc, selenium, vitamin A and vitamin D. Estimated average requirement nutrients of concern for adequacy were magnesium, folate, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E; however, a few age/gender groups were exceptions. Prevalence of inadequacy for AI nutrients which may be undesirably high were fibre, n-6 fatty acids and calcium. Vitamin D was more adequate in Inuit women and men than for Yukon First Nations or Dene/Métis. Conclusions: Unique patterns of dietary adequacy exist among Arctic indigenous peoples. Local wildlife food sources and market food sources should be maximised for their nutrient contributions to Arctic diets.

Prevalence of unexplained anaemia in Inuit men and Inuit post-menopausal women in Northern Labrador: International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey

“…15 Folate intakes were low but RBC folate levels, at least among young women, were not in a range associated with macrocytic anaemia. Given the current consumption of (fortified) wheat flour bread and other market foods, 16 severe folate deficiency would not be suspected. Vitamin A intakes < EAR were common, although reliable estimates of vitamin A intake require many days of dietary recalls.…”

Highly unsaturated n-3 fatty acids status of Canadian Inuit: International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey, 2007–2008

“…The lifestyle transition being observed has become a public health concern with epidemiologic transitions being noted in obesity and chronic disease risk (1), which were rare in the past (2)(3)(4). Dietary transition away from traditional foods, which are rich in various nutrients (5), is one critical factor linking the lifestyle changes with the shifting pattern in health and disease. In that regard, alterations in dietary fat intake are of interest given their importance in the development of chronic disease risk (6,7).…”

The Association Between Ready-to-Eat Cereal Consumption, Nutrient Intakes of the Canadian Population 12 Years and Older and Body Weight Measures: Results From a Nationally Representative Canadian Population

“…Findings of the current study also parallel data from a rigorous study employing dietary assessment interviews of indigenous adults of 44 representative communities of Yukon First Nations (n=797), Dene/Métis, (n = 1007) and Inuit (n = 1525). Using the EAR cut-point method, nutrients of concern, which were defined to fall significantly below the goal value included magnesium, folate, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E. In addition, for those nutrients in which Adequate Intake (AI) reference standards are available, under desirably high nutrient intakes were documented forfiber, n-6 fatty acids and calcium (Kuhnlein, Receveur, Soueida, & Berti, 2008). Further, intake of vitamin A was found to be suboptimal, particularly among the younger generations of Inuit men and women (Egeland et al, 2004).These results may reflect a reduced intake of fresh fruits and vegetables and dairy products (Garriguet, 2009) as well as increased consumption of convenience foods, snack foods, and meals eaten away from home (Woodruff & Hanning, 2009).…”