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

Extreme conditions of the North, Including decreasing partial oxygen pressure in theses latitudes, make special demands to human organism, especially to the blood producing organs. To reveal specific features of iron reserve in natives of Chukotka women in some communities of this autonomous region were investigated (Kanchalan – in tundra, Novoe Chaplino – on the coast).

Materials and methods: Iron reserve was determined by standardized methods: iron, total and latent iron – binding capacity of blood serum, per cent of saturation of transferrin with iron and iron reserve ferritin.

Results: Mean iron content in blood serum in Chukotka native women was 16,4±0,6 with region 9,0-24,9 mkmol/l. Total iron binding capacity was 67,6±1,4 on the average varying from 47,4 to 88,4 mkmol/l, per cent of saturation of transferring with iron was 25,9±0,7, varying from 13% to 41%. Content of ferritin in blood serum was 48,0 ±5,3 varying from 8,9 to 85,9 ng/ml. Content of reserve iron (ferritin) was compared in other regions of Siberia: in Novosibirsk it was 65,7±3,8 varying from 9,4 to 198,5 ng/ml in Mountain Altai it was 70,8±0,9 varying from 10,9 to 197,3 ng/ml. We see that in Chukotka natives it is the least, we may explain it by increased erythropoiesis in the North and, thus, less possibly for iron reserve. Such a situation causes latent iron deficiency in the presence of risk factors and chronic inflammatory processes. Regularity of increasing hemoglobin count and erythrocytes in women was marked in investigated populations from the south to the north (Altai, Novosibirsk, Chukotka).

Conclusion: Iron reserve in native women in Chukotka is decreased, and because of that disease prevention programmes in the North should be significantly different from such programmes in there regions.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

© 1996-2005, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk
Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)