Dietary Patterns are Linked to Cardiovascular Risk Factors but Not to Inflammatory Markers in Alaska Eskimos1–3

• Published in: The Journal of Nutrition
• Main Authors: Eilat-Adar, Sigal, Mete, Mihriye, Nobmann, Elizabeth D., Xu, Jiaqiong, Fabsitz, Richard R., Ebbesson, Sven O. E., Howard, Barbara V.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: American Society for Nutrition 2009
• Subjects: Nutritional Epidemiology; eskimo*; Alaska
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2777478; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19828690; https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.109.110387

Despite the tradition of a diet high in fish oils and abundant physical activity, coronary artery disease is increasing among Alaska Eskimos. Explanations for this observation include lifestyle changes. In this cross-sectional analysis, we evaluated dietary patterns of Alaska Eskimos and investigated the relations between these dietary patterns and known cardiovascular risk factors, including inflammatory markers. We used a principal component analysis with data from FFQ collected in 2000–2004 to determine dietary patterns of Alaska Eskimos. Four dietary patterns were identified: a traditional pattern, plus 3 patterns based on purchased food, one of which reflected healthy food choices. The traditional dietary pattern was associated with lower triglycerides (P < 0.001) and blood pressure (P = 0.04) and slightly higher LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) (P = 0.05). Whereas the healthy purchased diet was associated with a trend toward lower LDL-C (P = 0.09), the beverages and sweets diet was positively associated with LDL-C (P = 0.02). Diet pattern was not associated with inflammatory markers or pathogen burden. Our data show that the traditional diet is related to a better profile of cardiovascular disease risk factors and should be encouraged. Programs are needed to encourage the availability of healthy food choices for those not able to obtain traditional foods.