title: Elevated concentrations of plasma omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids among Alaskan Eskimos.
abstract: Eskimos living in rural southwestern Alaska depend on fish and marine mammals as major sources of subsistence food. Fatty acid concentrations in 80 Yupik Eskimos living in either a coastal or river village of southwestern Alaska were compared with those of non-Native control subjects. Concentrations of total plasma omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 omega-3), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 omega-3) were 4.3, 13, and 6.8 times higher, respectively, in Native participants than in non-Native control subjects. Concentrations of these fatty acids were higher in coastal-village than in river-village participants; concentrations paralleled consumption of marine mammal oil and marine fish. The ratios of eicosapentaenoic to arachidonic acid for adult coastal- and river-village participants were 1.16 and 0.70, respectively, 14 and 9 times those of non-Native adults, respectively. There was no increase in the mean bleeding times of Native participants of either village.
authors.affiliation: Arctic Investigations Program, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Anchorage, AK 99501.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Parkinson
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Heyward
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Bulkow
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barstaed
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Connor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000413:Alaska; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001760:Bleeding Time; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population
chemical_list: D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3