title: Circumpolar adaptation, social change, and the development of autoimmune thyroid disorders among the Yakut (Sakha) of Siberia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Alterations in thyroid function appear to play a central role in adaptation to Arctic environments. Increased thyroid activity in indigenous circumpolar populations is associated with upregulated metabolism, including elevated basal metabolic rate (BMR); however, little is known about the possible health consequences of these climate-induced changes on thyroid function. The focus of the present study is to determine the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disorders and their lifestyle and metabolic correlates among a sample of indigenous Yakut adults from northeastern Siberia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anthropometric dimensions, health data, and plasma samples were collected among 281 adults (143 women, 138 men; ≥18 years old) from the rural community of Berdygestiakh (62°N, 127°E; pop. 4,900), Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia. BMR measurements were available for 96 women and 98 men. Free triiodothyronine (T(3) ), free thyroxine (T(4) ), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) levels were determined using enzyme immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two percent of women and 6% of men had clinically elevated (>30 IU/ml) TPOAb. TPOAb was positively correlated with TSH (P < 0.01), T(3) (P < 0.05), and T(4) (P < 0.05) in women and showed a positive trend with T(4) (P = 0.06) in men. Monthly household income was significantly positively correlated with TPOAb in men (P < 0.01) and showed a trend among women (P = 0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although preliminary, these findings document higher than expected TPOAb levels among Yakut women and suggest possible consequences of increased thyroid activity associated with circumpolar adaptation and social change.
authors: Department of Anthropology, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon 97403, USA. tcepon@uoregon.edu
authors: Tara J
authors: TJ
authors: Cepon
authors: J Josh
authors: JJ
authors: Snodgrass
authors: William R
authors: WR
authors: Leonard
authors: Larissa A
authors: LA
authors: Tarskaia
authors: Tatiana M
authors: TM
authors: Klimova
authors: Valentina I
authors: VI
authors: Fedorova
authors: Marina E
authors: ME
authors: Baltakhinova
authors: Vadim G
authors: VG
authors: Krivoshapkin
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization; D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D003081:Cold Climate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007182:Income; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology*; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044382:Population Groups; D012423:Rural Health / Q000208:ethnology; D012800:Siberia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D012922:Social Change; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D014284:Triiodothyronine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; D013974:Thyroxine