Cardiovascular risk factors in the adolescent population of Chukotka.

Representative samples of adolescents of both sexes, aged 15-17, who were residents of coastal and tundra Chukotka settlements (325 subjects) have been examined. The survey was conducted according to methods based on WHO recommendations. The program included a questionnaire, two measurements of arterial blood pressure, anthropometry, and assessment of blood lipid levels. The prevalence of smoking in boys was 40%; in girls, 19%. High systolic BP occurred more often in newly arrived boys (25%). Hypercholesterolemia was minimal in Chukotka Natives (5%), as was hypertriglyceridemia. The prevalence of low HDL cholesterol was highest (48%) in Native boys. Lipid disorders in Chukotka Native children obviously result from an unbalanced diet. High levels of arterial blood pressure in non-Native adolescents of Chukotka are probably caused by stress on the adaptation system under severe conditions in the North.

Nutrition of Chukotka Native children.

We estimated nutrient and food intakes of adolescents aged 14 to 17 who inhabit the coastal and tundra zones of the Chukotka Autonomous Region, Russia, and developed approaches to improving their diet. We reassessed the dietary intakes of Native (n = 162) and non-Native (n = 155) adolescents of both sexes. We found that mean energy and nutrient intakes (protein, fat, carbohydrates) among schoolchildren were similar in different ethnic and sex groups. The diet of the subjects studied is high in sugar (18-19% of energy) and has an unfavorable fat composition, with saturated fatty acids (SFAs) contributing 14-15% of energy, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) contributing 5-6% of energy. Our results demonstrate that the children's diet approaches that of "Western society" to a greater extent than that of adults. A program on nutrition based on the national government project "Children of the North" has been developed at the Institute of Internal Medicine in collaboration with the Chukotka Sanitary and Epidemiology Supervision Services. This program includes the list of food products recommended for children. Some ecological factors and ethnic idiosyncrasies are considered.