Vitamin C in East-Greenland traditional nutrition: a reanalysis of the Høygaard nutritional data (1936-1937)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Greenlandic traditional nutrition was an almost exclusive meat dietary pattern. Høygaard et al. stayed in East-Greenland between August 1936 and August 1937. The four members of the expedition resided in Tasisaq and recorded nutritional intake by residing in families. However, data were analysed on a household level. The aim of the present study is to reanalyse the Høygaard et al. data according to modern scientific standards. In total 21 males and 14 females participated. Median (IQR) vitamin C intake was 79 (77) mg.day−1 for males and 59 (56) mg.day−1 for females. Consumption of meat and organs from seals gave 21 mg.d−1 vitamin C, comparable to vitamin C from algae. Narwhal skin and eyes had a marginal contribution to the vitamin C consumption. The number of adults consuming algae during the research days was 67% for males and 71% for females, this was 24% and 21% for narwhal skin. The main conclusions of the present study are the important role of algae consumption in Greenlandic traditional dietary pattern to avoid scurvy, and that foods traditionally seen as important sources of vitamin C like eyes from seals and narwhal skin, played a minor role in meeting the vitamin C requirements.