Table 3
The Positive Health Effects of Consuming Subsistence Foods in Alaska
Condition Documented Effect Theoretical Effect
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Non-insulin Alaska Natives with normal
dependent blood sugar had higher intake
diabetes frequencies of seal oil and
mellitus lower intakes of beef/pork
(NIDDM) and white bread than those
with glucose intolerance
(Murphy, et al 1995).
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Glucose Alaska Natives who ate both
intolerance daily seal oil and daily
salmon had a lower prevalence
of glucose intolerance than
those who ate them less-than-
daily (Adler, et al 1994).
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Cancer Fresh fruits and vegetables,
dietary fiber, beta-carotene,
vitamins C and E, selenium and
calcium have been reported as
protective against carcinogensis
in a variety of sites, e.g.
larynx, lung, esophagus, stomach,
colon, rectum, breast and cervix
(Nielse
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Breast cancer Omega-3 fatty acids, found in
fish and marine mammals, has
been suggested as reducing the
risk of breast cancer (Nielsen,
1996).
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Breast cancer Breast cancer incidence, while
increasing among Circumpolar
Inuit, is about half what could
be expected. This could be
explained by the Inuit diet
(not a high fat intake among
Canadian Inuit, and more n-3
than n-6 fatty acids) and other
lifestyle factors
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Prostate cancer Dietary factors (less animal fat
than at least one non-Inuit
population) may account for the
low risk of prostate cancer among
Inuit of Greenland, Canada,
Alaska and Russia. Diet may
determine risk of prostate cancer
through its influence on sex
hormone
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Ischemic heart disease The prevalence of atherosclerotic
lesions in the aortas of Alaska
Natives was consistently lower
than in those of non-Natives,
which may be due to high dietary
intake of omega-3 fatty acids
(Newman et al, 1993).
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LDL-HDL ratio Siberian Yupiks who reported
consuming greater amounts of
a-tocopherol (Vitamin E) and
fresh bird had lower LDL-HDL
ratios, which is desirable. A
high LDL-HDL ratio is considered
one of the strongest determinants
of risk from coronary heart
disease (Nobmann)
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Dental caries Dental caries rates were very
low in skeletal remains of early
Alaska Natives who ate no refined
sugars and starches (Costa, 1980).
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