Stable Nitrogen and Carbon Isotope Ratios Indicate Traditional and Market Food Intake in an Indigenous Circumpolar Population

Sarah H Nash; Andrea Bersamin; Alan R Kristal; Scarlett E Hopkins; Rebecca S Church; Renee L Pasker; Bret R Luick; Gerald V Mohatt; Bert B Boyer; Diane M O'BRIEN

doi:10.3945/jn.111.147595

Back

Stable Nitrogen and Carbon Isotope Ratios Indicate Traditional and Market Food Intake in an Indigenous Circumpolar Population

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Stable Nitrogen and Carbon Isotope Ratios Indicate Traditional and Market Food Intake in an Indigenous Circumpolar Population

Sarah H Nash, Andrea Bersamin, Alan R Kristal, Scarlett E Hopkins, Rebecca S Church, Renee L Pasker, Bret R Luick, Gerald V Mohatt, Bert B Boyer and Diane M O'BRIEN

The Journal of nutrition, Vol.142(1), pp.84-90

2012

DOI: 10.3945/jn.111.147595

PMCID: PMC3237231

PMID: 22157543

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.111.147595View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The transition of a society from traditional to market-based diets (termed the nutrition transition) has been associated with profound changes in culture and health. We are developing biomarkers to track the nutrition transition in the Yup'ik Eskimo population of Southwest Alaska based on naturally occurring variations in the relative abundances of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes (δ 15N and δ 13C values). Here, we provide three pieces of evidence toward the validation of these biomarkers. First, we analyzed the δ 15N and δ 13C values of a comprehensive sample of Yup'ik foods. We found that δ 15N values were elevated in fish and marine mammals and that δ 13C values were elevated in market foods containing corn or sugar cane carbon. Second, we evaluated the associations between RBC δ 15N and δ 13C values and self-reported measures of traditional and market food intake (n = 230). RBC δ 15N values were correlated with intake of fish and marine mammals (r = 0.52; P < 0.0001). RBC δ 13C values were correlated with intake of market foods made from corn and sugar cane (r = 0.46; P < 0.0001) and total market food intake (r = 0.46; P < 0.0001). Finally, we assessed whether stable isotope ratios captured population-level patterns of traditional and market intake (n = 1003). Isotopic biomarkers of traditional and market intake were associated with age, community location, sex, and cultural identity. Self-report methods showed variations by age and cultural identity only. Thus, stable isotopes show potential as biomarkers for monitoring dietary change in indigenous circumpolar populations. © 2012 American Society for Nutrition.

Biological and medical sciences

Feeding. Feeding behavior

Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology

Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems

Details

Title: Subtitle: Stable Nitrogen and Carbon Isotope Ratios Indicate Traditional and Market Food Intake in an Indigenous Circumpolar Population
Creators: Sarah H Nash - Center for Alaska Native Health Research, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, United States
Andrea Bersamin - Center for Alaska Native Health Research, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, United States
Alan R Kristal - Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
Scarlett E Hopkins - Center for Alaska Native Health Research, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, United States
Rebecca S Church - Center for Alaska Native Health Research, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, United States
Renee L Pasker - Center for Alaska Native Health Research, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, United States
Bret R Luick - Cooperative Extension Service, and, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, United States
Gerald V Mohatt - Center for Alaska Native Health Research, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, United States
Bert B Boyer - Center for Alaska Native Health Research, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, United States
Diane M O'BRIEN - Center for Alaska Native Health Research, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, United States
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: The Journal of nutrition, Vol.142(1), pp.84-90
Publisher: American Society for Nutrition
DOI: 10.3945/jn.111.147595
PMID: 22157543
PMCID: PMC3237231
ISSN: 0022-3166
eISSN: 1541-6100
Language: English
Date published: 2012
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Center for Social Science Innovation
Record Identifier: 9984214835802771

Metrics

8 Record Views

69 Times Cited - Web of Science

See more details