title: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles and relationship with cardiometabolic risk factors in Cree (Eeyouch) of Northern Québec.
abstract: n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) from fish are known modulators of cardiometabolic risk factors.
  
  
  
  To examine fatty acids (FAs) status and the relationship between n-3 LC-PUFA and cardiometabolic risk factors in Cree participants.
  
  
  
  We analyzed data from a cross-sectional study (n=829) conducted in Cree adults (aged 18-74 years) from 7 communities of the James Bay territory of Quebec (Canada) in 2005-2009. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, clinical and anthropometric data were collected. FAs were quantified in red blood cells (RBCs) under fasting conditions.
  
  
  
  A total of 89% of the participants were overweight (with 69% obesity), 33% had hypertriglyceridemia, 44% had low plasma HDL-c and 77% had fasting plasma insulin ≥90 pmol/l. Total n-3 PUFAs accounted for 6% of total FAs and were higher among older participants, while n-6 PUFAs accounted for 31% of total FAs and were higher among younger participants. According to the adjusted multiple linear regression models, n-3 LC-PUFA was associated (p<0.05) with higher total cholesterol, LDL-c and apo B-100, and was also associated (p<0.05) with lower blood glucose.
  
  
  
  Overall, this study showed that n-3 LC-PUFA levels measured in the RBCs of the Cree adults are relatively low and tend towards lower levels among youth. These levels might be insufficient to offset the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Proust
authors.affiliation: Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Drescher
authors.affiliation: Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Elhadji A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Laouan-Sidi
authors.affiliation: Public Health Department of the James Bay Cree Territory, Montréal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada.|Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada; michel.lucas@crchuq.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucas
authors.affiliation: Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, CHU de Québec Research Centre, Québec, QC, Canada.|Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Éric
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Dewailly
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: James Bay Cree; blood glucose; cardiovascular disease risk factors; fish; lipids; nutritional transition; polyunsaturated fatty acids; traditional food