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Selected plasma fatty acid levels in subsistence fed sled dogs along the Yukon River: a pilot study for biomonitoring

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 July 2011

Kriya L. Dunlap ,
Arleigh J. Reynolds ,
Lawrence K. Duffy ,
S. Craig Gerlach ,
Philip A. Loring ,
Marilyn Cleroux  and
Jean Philippe Godin
Kriya L. Dunlap
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Box 756160, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA (kldunlap@alaska.edu)
Arleigh J. Reynolds
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Box 756160, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA (kldunlap@alaska.edu)
Lawrence K. Duffy
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Box 756160, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA (kldunlap@alaska.edu)
S. Craig Gerlach
Affiliation:
Cross–Cultural Studies, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Box 756730, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
Philip A. Loring
Affiliation:
Cross–Cultural Studies, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Box 756730, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
Marilyn Cleroux
Affiliation:
Nestlé Research Center, Vers chez les Blanc 1000, Lausanne 26, Switzerland
Jean Philippe Godin
Affiliation:
Nestlé Research Center, Vers chez les Blanc 1000, Lausanne 26, Switzerland
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Abstract

The introduction of the ‘western diet’ marked a decline in omega–3 fatty acids rich foods and a concurrent increase in saturated and omega–6 fatty acids that persists today. Historically, circumpolar people have had a low incidence of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease and this has been largely attributed to polyphenolic compounds and omega–3 fatty acids offered from subsistence foods. In this report, we studied sled dogs as an Arctic sentinel species for monitoring the effect of a changing diet on lipid profiles along the Yukon River. Subsistence fed village sled dogs along the Yukon River, maintained largely on salmon were compared with a control kennel maintained on commercial food. Profiles showed higher levels for long chain omega–3 fatty acids in village subsistence fed dogs compared to control dogs and an opposite trend for omega–6 fatty acids, establishing baseline levels for follow up studies. A comparison with data for previously published mercury levels from the same cohort of dogs revealed a positive correlation with alpha–linolenic fatty acid and a negative correlation with linoleic fatty acid. Food and nutritional security is a concern in the Arctic as the impacts of climate change and transport of contaminants become obvious. This study supports not only the nutritional value of a subsistence diet but also the utility of sled dogs as a sentinel for human dietary change.

Type
Research Article
Information
Polar Record , Volume 48 , Issue 2 , April 2012 , pp. 177 - 183
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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