Wild fish consumption and latitude as drivers of vitamin D status among Inuit living in Nunavik, northern Québec

Abstract Objective: To measure vitamin D status and estimate factors associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in Nunavimmiut (Inuit living in Nunavik) adults in 2017. Design: Data were from Qanuilirpitaa ? 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health Survey, a cross-sectional study conducted in August–Octob...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public Health Nutrition
Main Authors: Little, Matthew, Brockington, Meghan, Aker, Amira, Kenny, Tiff-Annie, Andrade-Rivas, Federico, Ayotte, Pierre, Lemire, Mélanie
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2024
Subjects:
Climate change
inuit
Nunavik
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1368980024000491
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1368980024000491
Description
Summary:Abstract Objective: To measure vitamin D status and estimate factors associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) in Nunavimmiut (Inuit living in Nunavik) adults in 2017. Design: Data were from Qanuilirpitaa ? 2017 Nunavik Inuit Health Survey, a cross-sectional study conducted in August–October 2017. Participants underwent a questionnaire, including an FFQ, and blood samples were analysed for total serum 25(OH)D. Setting: Nunavik, northern Québec, Canada. Participants: A stratified proportional model was used to select respondents, including 1,155 who identified as Inuit and had complete data. Results: Geometric mean serum vitamin D levels were 65·2 nmol/l (95 % CI 62·9–67·6 nmol/l) among women and 65·4 nmol/l (95 % CI 62·3–68·7 nmol/l) among men. The weighted prevalence of serum 25(OH)D < 75 nmol/l, <50 nmol/l <30 nmol/l was 61·2 %, 30·3 % and 7·0 %, respectively. Individuals who were older, female, lived in smaller and/or more southerly communities and/or consumed more country (traditional) foods were at a reduced risk of low vitamin D status. Higher consumption of wild fish was specifically associated with increased serum 25(OH)D concentration. Conclusion: It is important that national, regional and local policies and programs are in place to secure harvest, sharing and consumption of nutritious and culturally important country foods like Arctic char and other wild fish species, particularly considering ongoing climate change in the Arctic which impacts the availability, access and quality of fish as food.

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