Alaska Native women are potentially exposed to persistent organic pollutants and heavy metals with a subsistence diet rich in fish and marine mammals. A growing fetus is exposed to contaminants through trans-placental transfer from the mother. A dietary history questionnaire was developed to provide initial nutrition assessment and dietary analysis for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Cord Blood Monitoring Program. Local health aids and nurses in two rural Alaskan communities are conducting dietary interviews with each mother during her first prenatal visit. The interview includes a description of the source and storage methods of their drinking water, a record of changes in food intake for reasons other than normal pregnancy modifications, and a food frequency questionnaire. The aim of the food frequency questionnaire is to obtain qualitative, descriptive information regarding usual consumption patterns of certain traditional food items. For each food item and age, the frequency of consumption is recorded (e.g. daily, weekly, monthly, almost never, or only seasonally). This information will be used to predict lifetime intakes of certain nutrients, and non-nutrients or environmental contaminants, that can accumulate in the body over time and from a variety of sources. Preliminary outcome and process data, including the efficacy of obtaining lifetime intakes of traditional foods in these populations, will be reviewed.
Learning Objectives: 1.During this session, the presenter will discuss recent research regarding the development and results of a dietary history questionnaire for assessing exposure to environmental contaminants in traditional Alaska Native foods. 2. Participants will demonstrate an understanding of the Alaska Native diet and nutrition issues that impact the accumulation of environmental contaminants in body tissues. 3. At the conclusion of this session the participant will be able to: List at least 5 traditional Alaska Native foods; identify the frequency of consumption of traditional Alaska Native foods over time; describe the primary drinking water sources and methods of storage, and how this can potentially impact contaminant exposures; and analyze the efficacy of using this dietary method in two Alaska Native populations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.