Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
Volume 83, Issue 3 , Pages 143-150, September 2010

Is marine mammal fat or fish intake most strongly associated with omega-3 blood levels among the Nunavik Inuit?☆

  • M. Lucas

      Affiliations

    • Axe Santé des Populations et Environnement, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUL-CHUQ), Delta Building #2 – Office 600, 2875 Laurier Blvd., 6th Floor, Que., Canada G1V 2M2
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +14185254444x46512; fax: +14186542726.
    • ,
  • F. Proust

      Affiliations

    • Axe Santé des Populations et Environnement, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUL-CHUQ), Delta Building #2 – Office 600, 2875 Laurier Blvd., 6th Floor, Que., Canada G1V 2M2
    • ,
  • C. Blanchet

      Affiliations

    • National Institute of Quebec Public Health, Que., Canada
    • ,
  • A. Ferland

      Affiliations

    • Axe Santé des Populations et Environnement, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUL-CHUQ), Delta Building #2 – Office 600, 2875 Laurier Blvd., 6th Floor, Que., Canada G1V 2M2
    • ,
  • S. Déry

      Affiliations

    • Department of Public Health, Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, Kuujjuaq, Que., Canada
    • ,
  • B. Abdous

      Affiliations

    • Axe Santé des Populations et Environnement, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUL-CHUQ), Delta Building #2 – Office 600, 2875 Laurier Blvd., 6th Floor, Que., Canada G1V 2M2
    • Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University (BA, ÉD), Que., Canada
    • ,
  • É. Dewailly

      Affiliations

    • Axe Santé des Populations et Environnement, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval (CHUL-CHUQ), Delta Building #2 – Office 600, 2875 Laurier Blvd., 6th Floor, Que., Canada G1V 2M2
    • Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University (BA, ÉD), Que., Canada

Received 10 May 2010; received in revised form 11 June 2010; accepted 24 June 2010. published online 15 July 2010.

Abstract 

Here we determined the relationship between red blood cell (RBC) omega-3 (n-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and usual dietary marine food product intake among 630 Nunavik Inuit adults.

Marine food product intake was determined by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and fatty acids were quantified in RBC membranes. Multiple linear regression was undertaken to determine the relationship between marine food product inatke and RBC n-3 LC-PUFAs (dependent variable).

Mean RBC n-3 LC-PUFA level was 9.16±0.11% [SEM]. The highest correlations noted with RBC n-3 LC-PUFAs were for marine mammal fat (rs=0.41, P<0.0001) and fish (rs=0.35, P<0.0001). Age, total marine mammal fat and fish intakes were the variables that contributed the most to predicted RBC n-3 LC-PUFAs and explained 34%, 15% and 5%, respectively, of its variances.

Our study indicates that marine mammal fat intake is more important than fish in accounting for RBC n-3 LC-PUFA levels among the Nunavik Inuit.

Keywords: Omega-3 fatty acids, Diet, Marine mammals, Fish, Inuit, Red blood cells

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

☆ Supported by the Minister of Health and Social Services of Quebec, the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services, the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs of Canada, the Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Network of Centres of Excellence of Canada (ArcticNet), the Nasivvik ACADRE Inuit Centre and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). A. Ferland is a Canadian Diabetes Association postdoctoral fellow.

PII: S0952-3278(10)00115-8

doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2010.06.006

Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
Volume 83, Issue 3 , Pages 143-150, September 2010

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution