Preliminary assessment of nutrients in daily diets of a sample of Belcher Island Inuit adults.

In order to describe daily food patterns and nutrient intakes of adults in the Inuit community of Sanikiluaq, 48 adults (young and older men and women, 12 per group, randomly selected from all individuals within their age and sex group) provided two 24-hour recalls of food consumption, once each in two seasons (February/March, October/November). The most frequent Inuit foods were reindeer, seal, and arctic char, while the most frequent market foods were tea, sugar, and bannock. On average 799 grams of Inuit food were consumed per day, providing 47% of daily energy and 65-92% of daily protein, iron, zinc, phosphorus, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin. Inuit foods are primary sources of many nutrients for the Belcher Island Inuit.

Vitamin A (retinol) status of first nation adults with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) has been reported to be associated with an impaired metabolic availability of vitamin A. The purpose of this study was to examine vitamin A status in a select group with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). METHODS: Participants included 106 (male, female, > 40 years) Plains Cree adults residing in central Alberta, with NIDDM (n = 59) and non-diabetic controls (n = 47). Non-fasting plasma samples were collected and concentrations of retinol, zinc, alpha-tocopherol, total protein, albumin, retinol binding protein (RBP), transthyretin (TTR), cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, and fructosamine were determined. Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of plasma RBP concentration. Three repeated 24-hour recalls and a food frequency questionnaire were used to determine vitamin A intakes. RESULTS: Diabetic subjects had similar intake and plasma concentration of vitamin A compared to controls. Factors such as alpha-tocopherol, zinc, total protein, albumin, and TTR, which are known to influence vitamin A metabolism, also remained unaffected in subjects with diabetes. Plasma levels of vitamin A carrier protein (RBP), however, were elevated in diabetic subjects, possibly as a result of hyperinsulinemia. The subjects with diabetes had many characteristics of the insulin resistant syndrome, including central obesity, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridemia. Poor metabolic control, based on plasma glucose, was a significant predictor of RBP concentration in diabetic subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The plasma concentration of RBP was elevated in diabetic subjects and was associated with normal circulatory availability of retinol. The subjects with NIDDM, characterized by insulin resistance without insulin deficiency, thus, appear to be associated with normal vitamin A status.

Evaluating food use by Canadian aboriginal peoples.

Canadian Aboriginal people encompass diverse cultural groups, whose daily food patterns vary in regard to the kinds and proportions of indigenous foods. Standard dietary methods of assessing food consumption sometimes require modification to be understandable and acceptable to Aboriginal communities. Depending upon the purpose of the research, food frequency methods, repeated 24-h recalls of individual food consumption, and (or) examination of food preferences and food health beliefs may be used. Consultation with Aboriginal community leaders in planning the research is essential, to ensure collaboration and support. Explaining the purpose and methods to community members requires assistance of a respected local Aboriginal person, fluent in the language. Extra time is required for becoming acquainted with local foods, for translation, and for training community members as interviewers. Examples of these principles are discussed from the author's experience in the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and northern Alberta.

The high cost of a nutritionally adequate diet in four Yukon communities.

The cost of purchasing a nutritionally adequate diet in four Yukon communities was examined, based on the 46 food items and quantities of the federal government's Northern Food Basket. In Old Crow, unit purchase prices were on average 250% of those in Edmonton, while in three southern Yukon communities, unit purchase prices were about 125% of those in Edmonton. In quantities needed to meet weekly nutrient needs of a family of four, the cost in Old Crow was 320% of that in Edmonton, while in three southern Yukon communities, it was 140%. It appears that due to financial necessity, Yukon aboriginal people need continuing access to traditional food resources (wild game animals, birds, fish and berries). Since the Northern Food Basket does not include any traditional foods, it alone is of limited acceptability to these people. The high cost of marketed food and the role of traditional foods in contemporary diets should be considered in giving dietary advice and in determining food allowances in social assistance programs.

Inuvialuit food use and food preferences in Aklavik, Northwest Territories, Canada.

Annual frequency of use of 32 species of mammals, fish, birds and plants was examined among 36 (43% of all) Inuvialuit households in Aklavik, NWT. Degree of preference for each of 34 traditional and 12 store-bought foods was examined among 36 adults and 35 (83% of all) Inuvialuit school children ages 10-16 years, using a Likert-type scale. Traditional foods were used on average 676 +/- 464 (mean +/- S.D.) times per year, the most frequent being caribou (145, mean), beluga whale (74), hares (35), muskrat (26), whitefish (52), cisco (39), burbot (38), inconnu (37), Arctic charr (31), geese (44) ducks (19), ptamigan (18), cloudberries (22), cranberries (20) and blueberries (18). Traditional foods were well-linked, especially caribou, bannock, charr, beluga, muskrat, geese, ducks, and hare. For 31 of 34 traditional foods, there were no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05, t-test) in children's vs adult's preference ratings; however, children rated 8 of 12 store-bought foods higher (p < 0.05) than adults did. Reasons given for the selection of favourite foods included the role of caribou as the dietary staple, the food's traditional nature, its origin in nature, its association with home and childhood, as well as organoleptic and convenience considerations. Overall, traditional foods are frequently consumed and highly preferred by contemporary Inuvialuit of Aklavik.