American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 55, 1024-1032, Copyright © 1992 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

The diet of Alaska Native adults: 1987-1988

ED Nobmann, T Byers, AP Lanier, JH Hankin and MY Jackson
Nutrition Services, Alaska Area Native Health Service, Anchroage 99501.

Although in the past, rates of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes were lower in Alaska Natives than in US whites, these diseases are now increasing. The rate of iron-deficiency anemia for Alaska Natives continues to be higher than that in the general population. To understand the role of diet in these chronic diseases, seasonal dietary intakes of 351 Alaska Native adults from 11 communities were assessed during 1987-1988. Alaska Natives consumed more energy (19%), protein (39%), fat (21%), carbohydrate (13%), iron (25%), vitamin A (53%), and vitamin C (31%), but less calcium (19%) than did the general US adult population [National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey II (NHANES II)]; Alaska Natives consumed six times more fish but less fruits and vegetables. Results suggest that energy and protein intakes decreased in the last 30 y but the proportion of energy from fat (37%) remained unchanged. High fish consumption and large seasonal dietary variations persisted, which may protect against chronic diseases. However, excess energy and fat and low calcium, fruit, and vegetable intakes may be contributing to recent increases in chronic diseases. Dietary guidelines are proposed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				L. A. Boardman, A. P. Lanier, A. J. French, K. V. Schowalter, L. J. Burgart, K. R. Koller, S. K. McDonnell, D. J. Schaid, and S. N. Thibodeau Frequency of Defective DNA Mismatch Repair in Colorectal Cancer among the Alaska Native People Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., November 1, 2007; 16(11): 2344 - 2350. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Kelly, A. P. Lanier, S. Alberts, and C. L. Wiggins Differences in Cancer Incidence among Indians in Alaska and New Mexico and U.S. Whites, 1993-2002. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., August 1, 2006; 15(8): 1515 - 1519. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. D. Nobmann, R. Ponce, C. Mattil, R. Devereux, B. Dyke, S. O. E. Ebbesson, S. Laston, J. MacCluer, D. Robbins, T. Romenesko, et al. Dietary Intakes Vary with Age among Eskimo Adults of Northwest Alaska in the GOCADAN Study, 2000-2003 J. Nutr., April 1, 2005; 135(4): 856 - 862. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Andersen, B. Hvingel, K. Kleinschmidt, T. Jorgensen, and P. Laurberg Changes in iodine excretion in 50-69-y-old denizens of an Arctic society in transition and iodine excretion as a biomarker of the frequency of consumption of traditional Inuit foods Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2005; 81(3): 656 - 663. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Arnold, T. V. Lynn, L. A. Verbrugge, and J. P. Middaugh Human Biomonitoring to Optimize Fish Consumption Advice: Reducing Uncertainty When Evaluating Benefits and Risks Am J Public Health, March 1, 2005; 95(3): 393 - 397. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Augustsson, D. S. Michaud, E. B. Rimm, M. F. Leitzmann, M. J. Stampfer, W. C. Willett, and E. Giovannucci A Prospective Study of Intake of Fish and Marine Fatty Acids and Prostate Cancer Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., January 1, 2003; 12(1): 64 - 67. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. Parkinson, B. D. Gold, L. Bulkow, R. B. Wainwright, B. Swaminathan, B. Khanna, K. M. Petersen, and M. A. Fitzgerald High Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in the Alaska Native Population and Association with Low Serum Ferritin Levels in Young Adults Clin. Vaccine Immunol., November 1, 2000; 7(6): 885 - 888. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Gittelsohn, S. B. Harris, K. L. Burris, L. Kakegamic, L. T. Landman, A. Sharma, T. M. S. Wolever, A. Logan, A. Barnie, and B. Zinman Use of Ethnographic Methods for Applied Research on Diabetes Among the Ojibway-Cree in Northern Ontario Health Educ Behav, August 1, 1996; 23(3): 365 - 382. [Abstract] [PDF]