Indigenous peoples experience a disproportionate burden of food insecurity and the Arctic is no exception. We therefore evaluated the prevalence, socio-demographic, and dietary correlates of food ...insecurity in the most comprehensive assessment of food insecurity in Arctic Canada. A cross-sectional survey of 1901 Inuit households was conducted in 2007–2008. Measurements included food insecurity, 24-h dietary recalls, socio-demographics, and anthropometry. Food insecurity was identified in 62.6% of households (95% CI = 60.3–64.9%) with 27.2% (95% CI = 25.1–29.3%) of households severely food insecure. The percent with an elevated BMI, waist circumference, and percent body fat was lower among individuals from food insecure households compared to food secure households (P ≤ 0.001). Adults from food insecure households had a significantly lower Healthy Eating Index score and consumed fewer vegetables and fruit, grains, and dairy products, and consumed a greater percent of energy from high-sugar foods than adults from food secure households (P ≤ 0.05). Food insecurity was associated with household crowding, income support, public housing, single adult households, and having a home in need of major repairs (P ≤ 0.05). The prevalence of having an active hunter in the home was lower in food insecure compared to food secure households (P ≤ 0.05). Food insecurity prevalence is high in Inuit communities, with implications for diet quality that over the long-term would be anticipated to exacerbate the risk of diet-related chronic diseases. Actions are required to improve food security that incorporate the traditional food system and healthy market food choices.
Food insecurity and the nutrition transition have been noted in arctic communities. We therefore evaluated biomarkers of nutritional status and nutrient intakes by traditional food (TF) and food ...security status among Inuit in Canada. A cross-sectional health survey of Inuit (≥18 y) in 36 arctic communities was conducted in 2007-2008. Food security was assessed by 24-h dietary recalls using USDA questionnaires and nutrient intakes. Biomarkers included serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D 25(OH)D, hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and erythrocyte RBC fatty acids (FA). Analyses were stratified by past-day TF consumption (yes vs. no) and food security status (secure vs. insecure). Food insecurity was prevalent (62.6%) and associated with higher RBC trans-FA and lower hemoglobin levels and serum ferritin, whereas TF consumption was associated with higher serum 25(OH)D, (n-3) FA, and serum ferritin (P ≤ 0.05). In men, food insecurity was associated with lower intake of energy and energy-adjusted fiber, vitamin C, iron, zinc, and magnesium. In women, food insecurity was associated with a higher intake of carbohydrates and lower intake of fiber, dietary folate equivalent, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D. For both sexes, when TF was consumed, there was a higher intake of protein, protein-related micronutrients, and vitamins A and C and a lower intake of carbohydrates, saturated fat, and fiber and a lower sodium:potassium ratio (P ≤ 0.05). Nutrition transition and food insecurity are associated with a multifaceted shift in nutrient status and intakes with implications for increased risk of diet-sensitive chronic diseases.
BACKGROUND:
Fetal preeclampsia exposure has been associated with later cardiometabolic disease. However, this association has been investigated in few large population-wide studies, and it is unknown ...whether the association represents a causal relationship or is the result of shared etiological factors.
METHODS:
To further investigate the relationship between preeclampsia exposure and later cardiometabolic disease, we identified 1 692 944 singleton infants born in Norway during 1967 to 1997, where 44 299 were exposed to preeclampsia in utero. The individuals were followed for hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia as defined by dispensed medication. We used Cox regression models to calculate the association between preeclampsia exposure and cardiometabolic outcomes adjusting for measured confounders. We also used full sibling comparisons and stratified Cox regression to control for unmeasured familial confounders.
RESULTS:
On the population level, exposed individuals had increased risk of hypertension (adjusted hazard ratio aHR 1.51 95% CI, 1.41–1.63), diabetes (aHR 1.33 95% CI, 1.24-1.43, and dyslipidemia (aHR 1.28 95% CI, 1.13–1.45) compared with unexposed individuals. In sibling data, individuals not exposed to preeclampsia, but with an exposed sibling, had higher risk of hypertension and diabetes than individuals where no siblings were exposed to preeclampsia. Moreover, when comparing siblings discordant on preeclampsia exposure, there were no associations between preeclampsia and hypertension (aHR 1.05 95% CI, 0.88–1.26), diabetes (aHR 0.96 95% CI, 0.80–1.14), and dyslipidemia (aHR 0.86 95% CI, 0.62–1.20).
CONCLUSIONS:
Fetal preeclampsia exposure was associated with adult life hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia, but these associations were likely due to shared etiological factors, rather than exposure to the preeclamptic condition itself.
Dietary habits among Arctic preschoolers are unknown. A cross-sectional health survey of 388 Inuit, aged 3-5 y, was conducted in 16 communities in Canada's Nunavut Territory. Twenty-four-hour recall ...and FFQ with parents and primary caregivers quantified diet from market and traditional foods (TF). The Institute of Medicine's Dietary Reference Intakes estimated adequacy comparing intakes with Estimated Average Requirement or Adequate Intakes (AI). High-sugar and high-fat food and sugar beverage consumption and the extent to which dietary habits followed the Canadian Food Guide were evaluated. The children's mean age was 4.4 ± 0.9 y and the mean BMI percentile was 90.2%. Consumption of nutrient-poor and energy-dense food and beverages contributed to 35% of energy. Most children met the requirements for many nutrients despite not eating the recommended servings from Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Higher intake of TF resulted in higher intakes of cholesterol, vitamins A and D, iron, magnesium, and zinc. The percent above the AI for vitamin D was 43.1, 56.8, and 83.2% among no, low, and high TF consumers, respectively (χ² test; P-trend < 0.0001). Dietary habits indicate a population at risk for overweight, obesity, and tooth decay. Interventions should encourage TF, including plant-based TF; healthy market food choices, including fruit and vegetables; and milk or alternative sources of vitamin D and calcium and discourage unhealthy market food choices.
Background
We updated the information on trends of incident acute myocardial infarction in Norway, focusing on whether the observed trends during 2001–2009 continued throughout 2014.
Methods
All ...incident (first) acute myocardial infarctions in Norwegian residents age 25 years and older were identified in the Cardiovascular Disease in Norway 1994–2014 project. We analysed overall and age group-specific (25–64 years, 65–84 years and 85 + years) trends by gender using Poisson regression analyses and report the average annual changes in rates with their 95% confidence intervals.
Results
During 2001–2014, 221,684 incident acute myocardial infarctions (59.4% men) were identified. Hospitalised cases accounted for 79.9% of all incident acute myocardial infarctions. Overall, incident acute myocardial infarction rates declined on average 2.6% per year (incidence rate ratio 0.974, 95% confidence interval 0.972–0.977) in men and 2.8% per year (incidence rate ratio 0.972, 95% confidence interval 0.971–0.974) in women, contributed by declining rates of hospitalisations (1.8% and 1.9% per year in men and women, respectively) and deaths (6.0% and 5.8% per year in men and women, respectively). Declining rates were observed in all three age groups. The overall acute myocardial infarction incidence rates continued to decline from 2009 onwards, with a steeper decline compared to 2001–2009. During 2009–2014, gender-adjusted acute myocardial infarction incidence among adults age 25–44 years declined 5.3% per year, contributed mostly by declines in hospitalisation rates (5.1% per year).
Conclusion
Acute myocardial infarction incidence rates continued to decline after 2009 in Norway in both men and women. The decline started to involve individuals aged 25–44 years, marking a turning point in the previously reported stagnation of rates during 2001–2009.
Preconception predictors of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia may identify opportunities for early detection and improve our understanding of the pathogenesis and life course epidemiology of ...these conditions. Female participants in community-based Cohort Norway health surveys, 1994 to 2003, were prospectively followed through 2012 via record linkages to Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Analyses included 13 217 singleton pregnancies (average of 1.59 births to 8321 women) without preexisting hypertension. Outcomes were gestational hypertension without proteinuria (n=237) and preeclampsia (n=429). Mean age (SD) at baseline was 27.9 years (4.5), and median follow-up was 4.8 years (interquartile range 2.6–7.8). Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia shared several baseline risk factorsfamily history of diabetes mellitus, pregravid diabetes mellitus, a high total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (>5), overweight and obesity, and elevated blood pressure status. For preeclampsia, a family history of myocardial infarction before 60 years of age and elevated triglyceride levels (≥1.7 mmol/L) also predicted risk while physical activity was protective. Preterm preeclampsia was predicted by past-year binge drinking (≥5 drinks on one occasion) with an adjusted odds ratio of 3.7 (95% confidence interval 1.3–10.8) and by past-year physical activity of ≥3 hours per week with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.5 (95% confidence interval 0.3–0.8). The results suggest similarities and important differences between gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, and preterm preeclampsia. Modifiable risk factors could be targeted for improving pregnancy outcomes and the short- and long-term sequelae for mothers and offspring.
Detailed knowledge regarding the associations between intake of different types of seafood and meat and the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), and insight into possible mechanisms are warranted. In this ...study we aimed to evaluate the associations between intake of different types of seafood and meat and the subsequent risk of T2D using the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study (MoBa), and furthermore, by using a mouse model to gain further insight into possible molecular mechanisms contributing to the associated metabolic changes. Women in MoBa who were free of pharmacologically treated diabetes at baseline (n = 60,777) were prospectively evaluated for incident T2D, identified on the basis of medication usages > 90 days after delivery, ascertained by the Norwegian Prescription Database. Dietary intake was obtained with a validated 255-item food frequency questionnaire which assessed habitual diet during the first 4-5 months of pregnancy. Metabolic phenotypes and plasma metabolome were investigated in female mice fed isocaloric diets with different types of seafood and meat mimicking the dietary intake in the human cohort. During maximum 10-year and mean (SD) 7.2 (1.6) years follow-up time, 681 (1.1%) women developed pharmacologically treated T2D. All statistical models identified a higher risk of T2D with increased shellfish intake, whereas no associations were observed for total seafood, fatty fish, total meat and red meat in the adjusted models. In mice, the shellfish-based western diet induced reduced glucose tolerance and insulin secretion compared to the diet based on lean fish, and we identified a number of metabolites elevated in plasma from shellfish-fed mice that correlated with glucose intolerance. Mice fed a western diet based on meat also exhibited reduced glucose tolerance in comparison to lean fish fed mice, whereas mice fed fatty fish, total seafood or red meat did not differ from lean fish fed mice. We observed a diet-specific metabolic signature in plasma demonstrating five distinct metabolite profiles in mice fed shellfish, fatty fish, total seafood/lean fish, a mixed diet and meat. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that different types of seafood have different outcome on T2D risk. In women, intake of shellfish was associated with higher risk of T2D. In female mice, a shellfish enriched diet reduced glucose tolerance and altered the abundance of several distinct plasma metabolites correlating with glucose tolerance.
Inuit have not experienced an epidemic in type 2 diabetes mellitus, and it has been speculated that they may be protected from obesity's metabolic consequences. We conducted a population-based ...screening for diabetes among Inuit in the Canadian Arctic and evaluated the association of visceral adiposity with diabetes.
A total of 36 communities participated in the International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey. Of the 2796 Inuit households approached, 1901 (68%) participated, with 2595 participants. Households were randomly selected, and adult residents were invited to participate. Assessments included anthropometry and fasting plasma lipids and glucose, and, because of survey logistics, only 32% of participants underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. We calculated weighted prevalence estimates of metabolic risk factors for all participants.
Participants' mean age was 43.3 years; 35% were obese, 43.8% had an at-risk waist, and 25% had an elevated triglyceride level. Diabetes was identified in 12.2% of participants aged 50 years and older and in 1.9% of those younger than 50 years. A hypertriglyceridemic-waist phenotype was a strong predictor of diabetes (odds ratio OR 8.6, 95% confidence interval CI 2.1-34.6) in analyses adjusted for age, sex, region, family history of diabetes, education and use of lipid-lowering medications.
Metabolic risk factors were prevalent among Inuit. Our results suggest that Inuit are not protected from the metabolic consequences of obesity, and that their rate of diabetes prevalence is now comparable to that observed in the general Canadian population. Assessment of waist circumference and fasting triglyceride levels could represent an efficient means for identifying Inuit at high risk for diabetes.
Food security (i.e., a condition in which all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an ...active and healthy life) has been noted to be lower in indigenous communities in Canada. We investigated the prevalence of inadequate food security, or food insecurity, among Inuit households with preschool children.
We conducted a cross-sectional survey of the health status of 388 randomly selected Inuit children aged three to five years in 16 Nunavut communities during the period from 2007 to 2008. From the survey data, we classified levels of food insecurity specifically among children. We also classified levels of overall food insecurity of the household of each child. We calculated the weighted prevalence of levels of child food insecurity and of household food insecurity.
Nearly 70% of Inuit preschoolers resided in households rated as food insecure (69.6%; 95% confidence interval CI 64.7%-74.6%). Overall, 31.0% of children were moderately food insecure, and 25.1% were severely food insecure, with a weighted prevalence of child food insecurity of 56.1% (95% CI 51.0%-61.3%). Primary care-givers in households in which children were severely food insecure reported experiencing times in the past year when their children skipped meals (75.8%), went hungry (90.4%) or did not eat for a whole day (60.1%). Primary caregivers in households in which children were moderately food insecure reported experiencing times in the past year when they worried food would run out (85.1%), when they fed their children less expensive food (95.1%) and when their children did not eat enough because there was no money for food (64.3%).
We observed a high prevalence of household food insecurity, with a substantial proportion of children with severely food insecure status. Interventions are needed to ensure a healthy start in life for Inuit preschoolers.
Elevated concentrations of mercury (Hg) are commonly found in the traditional foods, including fish and marine mammals, of Inuit living in Canada's Arctic. As a result, Inuit often have higher ...dietary Hg intake and elevated Hg blood concentrations. However, these same traditional foods are excellent sources of essential nutrients. The goals of this study were 1) to identify the traditional food sources of Hg exposure for Inuit, 2) to estimate the percentage of Inuit who meet specific nutrient Dietary Reference Intakes and/or exceed the Toxicological Reference Values (TRVs), and 3) to evaluate options that maximize nutrient intake while minimizing contaminant exposure. A participatory cross-sectional survey was designed in consultation with Inuit in 3 Canadian Arctic jurisdictions (Nunatsiavut, Nunavut, and the Inuvialuit Settlement Region). Estimated intakes for EPA (20:5n3) and DHA (22:6n3) met suggested dietary targets, and estimated selenium (Se) intake fell within the Acceptable Range of Oral Intake. Estimated intakes of Hg (rs = 0.41, P < 0.001), Se (rs = 0.44, P < 0.001), EPA (rs = 0.32, P < 0.001), and DHA (rs = 0.28, P < 0.001) were correlated with their respective blood concentrations. Mean estimated Hg intake (7.9 μg · kg−1 · wk−1) exceeded the TRV of 5.0 μg · kg−1 · wk−1, with 35% of the population above this guideline. Because the estimated intakes of each of the nutrients were strongly correlated (Se: rs = 0.92, P < 0.001; EPA: rs = 0.82, P < 0.001; DHA: rs = 0.81, P < 0.001) with estimated Hg intake, efforts to decrease Hg exposure must emphasize the overall healthfulness of traditional foods and be designed to prevent concomitant harm to the nutrient intakes of Inuit.
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