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

Cardiovascular diseases

Objectives: Because the death rate from stroke in Alaska Natives is 50% higher than in the U.S. white population, our objective was to identify and reduce impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and type 2 diabetes (DM) as major cardio vascular disease risk factors among Eskimos.

Methods: 454 Eskimos > 25 years of age in 4 villages were initially screened revealing that those with IGT and previously undiagnosed DM had lower plasma concentrations -3 fatty acids (FAs) and higher concentrations of palmitic acid (C16:0) than the normoglycemic population.

Results: Intervention resulted in improved glucose tolerance in 60% of the participants. Of the 44 initially diagnosed as IGT, only 1 converted to DM during the four year intervention. The intervention also resulted in reduction of total cholesterol (P=0.0001), LDL cholesterol (P=0.0001), fasting glucose (0.0001), diastolic blood pressure (0.0007) and improved glucose tolerance (P=0.0006). This occurred without loss of body weight.

Conclusion: The data suggest that those with IGT and DM had diverged from the traditional diet high in -3 FAs and that palmitic acid consumption from store bought foods, such as shortening, butter and bacon, contributed to the development of IGT-DM.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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