Mercury interferes with endogenous antioxidant levels in Yukon River subsistence-fed sleddogs

Abstract

Before adopting modern corn-and-grain-based western processed diets, circumpolar peoplehad a high fat and protein subsistence diet and exhibited a low incidence of obesity,diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Some health benefits are attributable to a subsistencediet that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Pollution, both globaland local, is a threat to wild foods, as it introduces contaminants into the foodsystem. Northern indigenous people and their sled dogs are exposed to a variety ofcontaminants, including mercury, that accumulate in the fish and game that theyconsume. The sled dogs in Alaskan villages are maintained on the same subsistencefoods as their human counterparts, primarily salmon, and therefore they can beused as a food systems model for researching the impact of changes in dietarycomponents. In this study, the antioxidant status and mercury levels were measured forvillage sled dogs along the Yukon River. A reference kennel, maintained on anutritionally balanced commercial diet, was also measured for comparison. Totalantioxidant status was inversely correlated with the external stressor mercury.