Potential future studies on the nutritional status among indigenous peoples in Alaska and the Russian Far East: preliminary assessment of the Social Transition in the North data set

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this assessment is to examine the nutrition-related health data collected during the Social Transitions of the North (STN) study for understanding cultural differences between nations and the impact on nutritional status.Methods. The nutrition data in the STN study was collected in two regions of Alaska (Northwest Arctic and the Aleutian Islands) and in two regions of the Russian Far East (Kamchatka and Chukotka). The health questionnaire explored several factors that may contribute to identifying the nutritional status of the study populations. These factors were appetite, weight, subsistence food consumption, vitamin or mineral supplements use self-perception of health, special diets, and number of meals consumed with relatives.Results. US populations were heavier than the Russian population (p = 0.0001). Both the Alaskan and Russian populations are frequent users of subsistence foods. The US respondents reported consuming 75% or more of the total protein as subsistence protein more often (40%) than the Russian respondents (25%). Conclusion. US respondents perceive themselves as healthier than their Russian counterparts. The US respondents consumed greater amounts of subsistence foods in general, and more of their diet over the year is made up of Native protein.