International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Ethnic peculiarities of the North native inhabitants health

We have previously shown that the cases of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) are still rare in northern aborigines of Siberia and DM prevalence among indigenous males is lower than among indigenous females. In 2005 there were only 15 persons with DM among northern indigenous peoples in Krasnoyarsk territory but 14 of them were women. It is known that one of the main DM risk factors is the obesity.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and relationship between body mass and plasma insulin and lipids among indigenous males and females.

A total of 598 Evenks aged 18 and over years of age living in one district of Evenkia (90% eligible participants) were screening. There were 269 men and 327 women. Body mass index (BMI), вlood pressure (BP), skin fold thickness, fasting blood glucose, insulin, C-peptide, total lipids, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol levels were determined.

Among females the prevalence of overweight (29.3%) and obesity (13.8%) were higher than males (21.3% and 3.6%, р=0.001). In indigenous females, body mass gain was accompanied with insulin and C-peptide increase and a positive correlation between BMI and serum insulin was found. There were no differences in serum insulin levels in normal and overweight indigenous men. The HOMA index was significantly higher in obese than lean women (2.36 vs. 1.36, p<0.05). The prevalence of hypertension (BP greater than or equal 160/100 mm Hg) was higher among females than males (6.4% and 2%, р =0.02). There was no significant correlation between BMI and BP in males group. In females group systolic BP and diastolic BP correlated significantly with BMI. The prevalence rate of dyslipidemia abnormalities was significantly higher in women indigenous population.

Our data indicate that in northern indigenous females but not males obesity is presented mainly by the increase visceral fat and therefore is more accompanies by insulin resistance, metabolic disturbances, hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)