title: Improving vitamin A and D intake among Inuit and Inuvialuit in Arctic Canada: evidence from the Healthy Foods North study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People in Arctic Canada are undergoing a nutritional transition and increased prevalence of chronic disease. The Healthy Foods North diet and physical activity intervention was developed in 2007-2008 while working with populations in six communities in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four communities received the 1-year intervention (eg, conducting workshops, cooking classes and walking clubs) and two communities served as controls. Among the 263 adult evaluation participants, food frequency questionnaires were used to assess dietary intake at baseline and postintervention. Changes in mean nutrient intakes, nutrient density and dietary adequacy from baseline to postintervention were determined. The intervention impact on nutrient intakes was assessed through multivariate linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post-intervention assessment showed a reductions in total fat, saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and increases in iron intake, only in the intervention group. More than a 4%-increase in the percentage of adherence to vitamins A and D recommendations was observed in the intervention group. After adjusting the regression models, respondents in the intervention communities significantly reduced their energy intake and increased their vitamins A and D intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Healthy Foods North is an effective programme to improve dietary quality among populations of the Canadian Arctic. Long-term interventions are expected to be important factors in the prevention of diet-related chronic diseases in these communities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, University Terrace, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pakseresht
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, University Terrace, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kolahdooz
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Center for Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gittelsohn
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, University Terrace, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roache
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Social Services, Government of the Northwest Territories, Centre Square Tower, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corriveau
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, University Terrace, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Sangita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001110:Arctic Regions / Q000208:ethnology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D054521:Cultural Competency; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000208:ethnology / Q000502:physiology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015873:Northwest Territories / Q000208:ethnology; D020957:Nunavut / Q000208:ethnology; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*; D015995:Prevalence; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D014807:Vitamin D
keywords: DIET; Epidemiological methods; NUTRITION