Seafood Rich Diet Of Alaska Natives May Reduce Risk Of Diabetes

A new study of Yup’ik Eskimos in Alaska suggests that high intake of omega-3 fats, the type found abundantly in seafood, may protect against obesity-related diseases such as diabetes:

Associations of obesity with triglycerides and C-reactive protein are attenuated in adults with high red blood cell eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2011

Of the 330 people living in the Yukon Delta region of Alaska who took part in the study, 70% were either overweight of obese, yet only about 3.3% had type 2 diabetes, compared to 7.7% for the total US population.

Senior author Alan Kristal, Dr. PH:

"The new finding was that obesity did not increase [risk factors for heart disease and diabetes] among study participants with high blood levels of omega-3 fats.”

Lead author Zeina Makhoul, Ph.D:

“Interestingly, we found that obese persons with high blood levels of omega-3 fats had triglyceride and CRP concentrations that did not differ from those of normal-weight persons.” ... “It appeared that high intakes of omega-3-rich seafood protected Yup’ik Eskimos from some of the harmful effects of obesity.”

This was an epidemiological study. To determine whether it was indeed the omega-3 fatty acids in seafood that protected the Yupik people, or some other genetic or lifestyle factor, a clinical trial is needed. Lead author Makhoul cautioned against taking high doses of supplements based on this research.
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Results of poll: How often do you eat seafood?


________The study was led by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Their press release:
Study of Yupik Eskimos suggests high consumption of Omega-3 fats reduces risk of obesity-related disease
Photo of salmon drying outside an Alaskan home by Camille Lieske from The Center for Alaska Native Health Research.