Modulation of atherosclerotic risk factors by seal oil: a preliminary assessment.

We examined whether dietary supplementation with seal oil influenced the risk factors of atherosclerosis in healthy volunteers. Two intervention studies were carried out as preliminary steps in a larger project which aim at elucidating the disease preventive potential of seal oil. In study I ten healthy volunteers added 10 capsules of seal oil to their normal Western diet for six weeks. Blood tests were analysed for total-, HDL-, and LDL-cholesterol and plasma triglyceride, and the ratio of n-6/n-3 fatty acid was determined in plasma and erythrocyte membranes. In study II we examined the effect in five healthy volunteers who had only 5 capsules of seal oil daily for six weeks. As an additional test in study II, the effect on the proinflammatory TNF-alpha cytokine in lymphocytes was determined. A slightly decreased, however, not significant effect was observed for each of the cholesterol's after seal oil supplementation. In both studies plasma triglyceride, and the n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio of plasma and erythrocytes were significantly reduced upon seal oil intake. During the intervention period of study II a distinct reduced level of TNF-alpha was observed in isolated lymphocytes. The examinations suggest that supplementation of seal oil, 10 capsules or 5 capsules/day, may have beneficial effects on factors thought to be associated with cardiovascular and thrombotic diseases.

Effects of dietary seal oil on fat metabolism.

In the 1970s, Bang and Dyerberg demonstrated that a high intake of n-3 acids in Greenland protected against ischemic heart disease. This started the interest in fish oil as a preventive component in cardiac disease. The fatty acid composition in Greenlandic diet is quite different from the one in the Danish diet, being lower in saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and higher in monounsatured fatty acids (MUFAs). During the last decade, evidence has suggested that the MUFA (18:1) is not a neutral dietary component but has a positive effect of its own. This paper reports on a current project undertaken to study the effect of marine MUFAs and PUFAs on atherosclerosis-related parameters and to evaluate their possible synergistic effect in the prevention of atherosclerosis. The project has recently started, so at the moment results cannot be presented. The study will be carried out as an intervention study on 50 healthy volunteers. Capsules of Greenlandic halibut oil (rich in MUFAs) and "Biomarin" (rich in n-3 PUFAs) will be tested against seal oil.

Prematurity in Greenland. A study of infants with a birthweight below 2000 g.

For all 67 babies born in Greenland between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1992 with a birthweight < 2000 g, birth certificates and clinical data were reviewed. The frequency of a birthweight of < 2000 g was 1.8%, which corresponds with Danish data. Twenty-four (35%) died. Compared with Danish babies, the stratified odds ratio for death was 5.16. There was a marked geographic variation, with the highest mortality in the less affluent remote districts. Respiratory insufficiency was the dominant cause of death, with immaturity the only other important cause. Due to lack of equipment in the smaller district hospitals, half of the babies dying from respiratory insufficiency received no other treatment than oxygen in an incubator. It is recommended that all district health centres are equipped with facilities for nasal continuous airway pressure, that the use of antibiotics is encouraged and that the introduction of surfactant replacement therapy is considered.

Drug prescription to children living in the Arctic. An investigation from Nuuk, Greenland.

The prescription pattern to children living in an arctic environment (Nuuk, Greenland) is similar to the pattern seen in other countries e.g. Sweden, Norway or the US, but the prescription rate of both anti-infectives and the total number of drugs is 2-3 times larger. This may reflect differences both in socioeconomic factors, in disease patterns and in sickness rate in children living in the Arctic. Inuit children are known to have a disease pattern that partly differs from the one seen elsewhere. Most drugs were prescribed to the youngest children who also received less phenoxymethylpenicillin and more other anti-infectives. 2/3 of all drugs were prescribed during the winter (November to April). A small group of large scale consumers, 116 children or 7% of the children prescribed drugs, were prescribed anti-infective drugs 3 times or more and were prescribed more than 1/5 of all drugs to children in Nuuk in the year surveyed.

[Pyridoxine dependent seizures]. / Pyridoxinafhaengige kramper.

Pyridoxine dependent seizures is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. Its manifestations are intractable epilepsy leading to death in status epilepticus. Treatment with pyridoxine prevents the seizures and normalizes the EEG. Early diagnosis is important for the intellectual outcome. In Denmark, the disease has occurred in a child of healthy Tamil immigrants, who are first cousins. The child's case story is described and points to awareness of increased occurrence of rare autosomal recessive disorders in immigrants from cultures with traditional consanguinity. We suggest giving a pyridoxine test dosis to all cases of severe epilepsy and status epilepticus in infants younger than 18 months.