Over 60% of the population in K'asho Got'ine, NWT, obtained less than 2/3 of the Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNI) for vitamin A and calcium, as reported in a previous nutritional assessment. Focus group discussions and a food preference assessment were conducted with adults in order to identify the cultural, ecological, and socioeconomic factors (food attributes) as well as the individual preferences which influence the consumption of vitamin A and calcium-rich traditional and market foods in K'asho Got'ine. The major attributes limiting intakes of traditional food rich in vitamin A and calcium included: lack of equipment for hunting/fishing; seasonality; distance traveled to obtain certain foods; occasional unhealthy appearance of food; no hunter/fisher in the household. The major food attributes reported as barriers to greater intakes of selected market foods were: cost, freshness, intolerance to certain items, availability and unfamiliarity. Foods that received the highest preference scores were rabbit liver, loche liver, and Canada goose meat (smoked/dried) for vitamin A-rich foods and connie eggs, rabbit flesh, woodland and barrenland caribou head for calcium-rich foods. Criteria for selection of traditional and market foods to promote in the community included: (1) convenience of the food; (2) difficulty to overcome barriers to increasing food consumption; (3) concentration level of contaminants in certain traditional food; and (4) food preference score. This study identified available and underutilized traditional and market foods rich in vitamin A and calcium which are most acceptable to the community, and may be promoted in future nutrition intervention programs.

No description available.

Elevated toxaphene levels have been reported in the biota of the Arctic. The purpose of this study is to measure total toxaphene levels in food samples commonly consumed by the Canadian Inuit and study the relationship between concentrations of total toxaphene and individual congeners. A total of 127 Inuit food samples were collected for toxaphene analysis. Total toxaphene and the specific toxaphene congeners including Parlar #26, #40/41, #42, #44, #50 and #62 were detected in the food samples. Total toxaphene concentrations ranged from 13 to 2800 ng/g and various congener concentrations ranged from 0 to 610 ng/g. Concentrations of total toxaphene were strongly correlated with congener concentration in marine mammals and weaker in fish. The sum of congeners Parlar #26, #50 and #62 accounted for 0--15% of total toxaphene in fish and 0--66% in marine mammals. Regression models were used to estimate total toxaphene based on individual or combinations of congener concentrations. Dietary intake was estimated to be 1.07 and 0.78 mug/kg body weight per day in Chesterfield Inlet and Igloolik. Our results show that there is no general conversion factor that can be used to estimate total toxaphene concentrations based on congener measurements.

No description available.

Vitamin A, protein, iron, zinc, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were studied in the food system of the Sahtu (Hareskin) Dene/Metis of Fort Good Hope (FGH) and Colville Lake (CL), NWT. Traditional foods contributed significantly more (p 00% of the Canadian Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for protein, iron, and zinc but vitamin A consumption was generally $<$50% RNI. In all seasons, market foods provided significantly more vitamin A (p $ le$ 0.05) than traditional foods for FGH adults. Body weights were assessed for comparison of PCB intakes with the tolerable daily intake level (TDI) $(<$1 ug/kg body wt/day). Women $ ge$19 yrs weighed 59.9 $ pm$ 10.7 kg while men weighed 71.7 $ pm$ 11.4 kg. Most of the adult population consumed $<$25% TDI for PCBs.

No description available.