A study of a group of Eskimos known as the Yup’ik has revealed something fascinating. Researchers analyzed 330 of these eskimos and found that even though an astounding 70% of their population was overweight or obese, they still not did exhibit the same risk factors for heart disease from which the overall US population suffers.
The incidence of diabetes among their group was also lower than that of the overall US population.
It was revealed that these Eskimos consume 20 times more omega-3 essential fatty acids from fish sources than most Americans.
The heart disease risk factors that the Yup’ik had more favorable results in included: triglyceride and CRP levels. In other words, obesity is usually correlated with high triglycerides and high CRP levels (C-reactive protein, which is a marker for body inflammation and associated with heart disease).
However, in the case of the Yup’ik, despite obesity, they had trigylceride and CRP levels that were equal to people of normal weight.
“It appeared that high intakes of omega-3-rich seafood protected Yup’ik Eskimos from some of the harmful effects of obesity.”
The study was led by researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in conjunction with the Center for Alaska Native Health Research at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
Source:
http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/afp/healthusheartfood
My-Omega-3′s Comments:
This is one of the more interesting studies we’ve come across. It reminds us of some other articles and research we’ve read recently where doctors are perplexed that some overweight people did not exhibit the normal markers for weight related diseases. What explained the fact that some people were overweight but in seemingly good health whereas most overweight people suffer a much higher incidence of dangerous illnesses?
If this study is onto something, then it would appear that one possible answer is the inclusion of certain nutrients that are offsetting the weight issue.
One thing we would have liked the researchers to shed more light on was why the Yup’ik are often overweight to begin with? Do they live a typically sedentary “western” lifestyle other than high fish consumption? Or eat other foods that causes the weight gain (since fatty fish consumption is actually correlated with reduced weight and therefore highly implausible as the cause of their weight gain)?
In conclusion, this study gives hope to the notion that even if one isn’t prepared to make dramatic changes to one’s diet and lifestyle, the simple inclusion of potent health promoting substances like high DHA and EPA containing omega-3 fish oils may help counteract otherwise less than optimal choices.
Should you and your family be taking fish oil?